Lakers Survive Uneven Rounds At Ken Partridge Invitational
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. – The Roosevelt men's golf team survived three up-and-down rounds Sunday through Tuesday to finish in 13th at the Ken Partridge Invitational hosted at the Purgatory Golf Club in Noblesville, Indiana.
All five Lakers who participated in the event had some highlight moments, but all five also found their share of struggles as well in a tournament without a fellow NAIA member. Alvaro Pardo Gutierrez paced Roosevelt by tying for 44th at 12-over for the 54-hole event, and was the only Lakers golfer who was able to crack the top-50. Nicolas Paviet and Jared Tjelmeland both finished in a tie for 62nd at 19-over while Charlie Curtis was 79th and Joep Guiting was 81st.
The Lakers started on the back nine for Sunday's opening round and Gutierrez made an instant impression with a birdie on the first hole. He would add birdies on the 18th hole – his ninth of the day – as well as the 1st and 2nd holes to move himself to 1-over on the day. Unfortunately, the momentum did not last and he finished the day 5-over for Roosevelt's best round of Sunday. Paviet was just one shot back Sunday with four bogeys and a double, but he wasn't able to sink a birdie in his round. Both Curtis and Tjelmeland were able to card at least two birdies Sunday, but shot 79 and 80, respectively, on the par-72 course.
Gutierrez was the most consistent Roosevelt player Monday with a birdie on No. 7 to counteract four bogeys for a 3-over 75. But the most exciting round belonged to Tjelmeland, who made an eagle on No. 18 right before making the turn then followed up with two birdies on the next three holes. He finished the day 5-over for the round while Curtis and Paviet both struggled and shot above 80 in the second round.
Tuesday's final round started well for Gutierrez, Paviet and Tjelmeland, all of whom were 2-over or better when making the turn. Paviet was actually 1-under on the day with two birdies on the first nine while Gutierrez was at even par after his two birdies cancelled out two bogeys. Gutierrez finished with four bogeys on the back nine to card a 76 while Paviet also carded a four-over on the back to finish with a 75. Tjelmeland birdied his final hole of the tournament and recorded a 78 on the day, making him 2-under on par-5s over the course of the 54-hole event. Paviet was 1-under on the par-5s, putting both of them in the top half of the field on the longest holes on the course.
Guiting's 85 in the first round Sunday was his second-best round of the spring season after he played his final nine holes in just 4-over. The senior had a few struggles Monday in the second round with a pair of triple bogeys hurting his scorecard before things went downhill a bit Tuesday with just three pars in his round.
Roosevelt returns to the course Monday for the Ackerman-Allen Shootout at Ackerman-Allen Golf Club in West Lafayette, Indiana.