Macomb, Illinois -- After winning their first three meets of the spring, Indian Hills had to settle for second place at the Beu/Mussatto Invitational. The Warriors were edged by the host school, Western Illinois University, as one of only two two-year schools in the 11-team field. Western Illinois carried a one-stroke lead over IHCC into the final round and expanded the margin to three shots after 54 holes. Both teams scored five-under par 283 totals in the second round after WIU opened with a 283, a single shot ahead of Indian Hills following the first 18. The Warriors finished a single stroke in front of William Woods and two ahead of Cardinal Stritch.
Indian Hills sophomore Jackson Bugdalski fired one-under par 71s in the 1st and 3rd rounds and had a one-over 73 in between to come in at 215 for the tourney, one shot below par and in a tie for 3rd place. Eastern Illinois' Alvaro Hernandez and Cardinal Stritch's Brian Murtagh ran away from the field and tied for medalist honors, each shooting nine-under 207s over the par-72 Harry Mussatto Golf Course.
Bugdalski has been under par in six of his last eight rounds.
Two of his teammates came out firing in the WIU meet. Sophomore Eric Gilpin put together a pair of two-under par 70s and followed them up with a 78 for a 218 total that was two-over for the tourney. Freshman Julien Sale carded a couple of one-under 71s on Friday and put a 76 on the board for the final round, also winding up at 218. Those two were in a four-way tie for 9th place.
The Warriors had two other notable rounds -- Ricky Sanders' three-under 69 in the 2nd round, and Clayton Larsen's even-par 72, also in round two.
The District III Championship is up next for the No. 1 rated Warriors who will make the trip to Mayetta, Kansas for that event at the Firekeeper Golf Course, Apr. 25-26.
Beu/Mussatto Invitational
Team scores: 1. Western Illinois 283-283-297=863; 2. Indian Hills 284-283-299=866; 3. William Woods 285-285-297=867; 4. Cardinal Stritch 287-289-292=868; 5. Culver-Stockton 296-295-307=898; T6. Eastern Illinois 295-304-310=909; T6. Maryville 299-297-313=909; 8. Illinois Central CC 305-305-303=913; 9. North Dakota 309-310-313=932; T10. Chicago State 321-311-326=958; T10. Governors State 321-321-316=958
Indian Hills scores:
T3. Jackson Bugdalski 71-73-71=215; T9. Eric Gilpin 70-70-78=218; T9. Julien Sale 71-71-76=218; T17. Ricky Sanders 72-69-80=221; T30 Jakub Bares 74-80-74=228; T41. Clayton Larsen 77-72-84=233