The Briar Cliff golf teams concluded their first tournament of the spring season at the Las Vegas Shootout at the Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada. The Charger women closed out their tournament in eighth place, while the men's team ended their event in 13th-place behind a competitive field including four nationally ranked squads.

Women's Golf
The Charger women carded a team score of 329 in round two, keeping them in eighth place in the team standings with a total team score of 666 (+90). Nationally ranked No. 2 Oklahoma City University waltzed with the team title after firing a team score of 608 (+32).

"The ladies had a chance to move up on the leaderboard today but couldn't quite get over the deficit", said head coach Ben Irlbeck. "I was very pleased with how closely they contended with the top-25 teams. It will certainly give us confidence moving forward."

Helene Getz Bergmo was the highest placer for the Chargers as she recorded her seventh top-10 of her young career. Bergmo wiggled her way one spot up the leaderboard after a round two 76 (+4). In her final round, Bergmo rolled in six pars but nearly matched it with four birdies. Bergmo holed three birdies on the front nine to shoot even par, while shooting charting a 40 (+4) on the back.

"Helene's strong play was no surprise as she's been working hard this off-season", noted Irlbeck. "She continues to improve her swing mechanics and her short game is among the best."

Grace Johanson and Frankie Valencia hovered near one another the entire event. Johanson jumped six spots up the leaderboard to rest in a tie-for-35th place following round two with a score of 83 (+11). Johanson found herself to be streaky on day two recording four straight pars on the front nine while carding three pars and two birdies on the back. Valencia, after a second round 86 (+14), dropped one spot to end her run in a tie-for-38th place.

Kelly Baade finished her tournament in a solo 41st place after her round two score of 93 (+21). Baade couldn't seem to get comfortable on day two but battled to find six pars in her second round. Abbigale Miller rounded out the starting five for the Charger women as she soared five places up the leaderboard to a solo 46th place after posting a day two score of 84 (+12). Miller played a consistent round of 18 holes where she holed six pars and one birdie.

The Charger women have a month-long break before they head to the William Woods Spring Invite at the Tanglewood Golf Course in Fulton, Missouri to compete in a 36-hole event on March 27-28.

Men's Golf
The Charger men completed their season-opening tournament with one round on Tuesday. Heading into the final day, the Cliff sat in 12th only 16 shots back from a two-place jump up the leaderboard. The Chargers dropped one spot after firing a team score of 309 once again to finish in 13th with a 56-hole score of 926 (308-309-309). Nationally ranked No. 4 Ottawa University took home with the team title with an impressive team score of 831, firing -33 for the tournament.

"We have work to do", said Irlbeck. "We again showed signs of breaking through but struggled down the stretch today. The breakthrough is coming. The guys hit the ball well, but showed some rust around the greens."

Davess Verdugo began his third round in a tie-for-38th after recording a day one score of 149 (72-77). Verdugo dropped 12 spots to a tie-for-50th after a final round 80 (+8). Verdugo nearly found a streak to open his final round as he followed two opening pars with two birdies. Verdugo lost his rhythm but battled to sign the day two score of 80.

Desmond Landin finishes his first tournament of 2023 in a tie-for-53rd place after returning to the clubhouse with third round 78 (+6). Landin dropped five places down the leaderboard from day one to day two, but showed consistency throughout the tournament. Landin's third round included eight pars and three birdies. Mason Collins was the low man of the day for the Chargers as he carded a round three score of 74 (+2). Collins' took advantage of the par-fives, playing them -2 on the day. His third round saw 12 pars to go along with a pair of birdies. Collins entered day two of the event in a solo 64th place and jumped seven spots up the leaderboard in round three to finish in a tie-for-57th.

Andrew Arndorfer walked off the final green with a round three score of 79 (+7). Arndorfer recorded the only eagle of the Chargers' tournament yesterday and backed it up with a birdie on the same hole today. Arndorfer's third 18 saw eight pars and three birdies to end his tournament in a tie-for-68th. Braxton Brockhaus rounded out the starting five for the men with a final round 78 (+6). Brockhaus' final round included a team-high 12 pars backed by one birdie. Brockhaus improved by over more three strokes or better in each round, raising him five spots on the leaderboard after day two to finish in a tie-for-75th.

BC's men also have a month-long break before they venture to the Woodland Hills Golf Course in Eagle, Nebraska and the Highlands Golf Club in Lincoln, Nebraska to compete in the Doane Spring Invite on March 24-25.
 
Chargers at the event (Bold = team low round):
Women:
T10      Helene Getz Bergmo     155 (79-76)
T35      Grace Johanson             171 (88-83)
T38      Frankie Valencia           173 (87-86)
41        Kelly Baade                  176 (83-93)
46        Abbigale Miller            181 (97-84)
 
Men:
T50      Davess Verdugo            229 (72-77-80)
T53      Desmond Landin           230 (78-74-78)
T57      Mason Collins              231 (79-78-74)
T68      Andrew Arndorfer         238 (79-80-79)
T75      Braxton Brockhaus        245 (86-81-78)