Chris Mangan

The Jackrabbit men’s golf team had three individuals place in the top 10 and won the Cleveland State Invitational Sept. 29 through 30.

The win gave the Jacks their second in three tournaments this year.

Geoff Mead and Trent Peterson led the Jacks, as Mead repeated as individual medalist and Peterson had his third straight runner-up finish. This time, Peterson fell short of his teammate by a stroke, as Mead shot a 212 and Peterson a 213.

“Geoff really shines on difficult golf courses, which Sand Ridge Golf Club definitely is,” said head coach Jared Baszler. “He’s got the ability to go low on tough golf courses, and his 73 the first round might have been most impressive considering he made a double and a quadruple bogey during that round.”

Tim Kalil shot a 220 to tie for ninth, while Nolan Meyer and Justin Jenkins – both competing in their first event for the Jacks this year – tied for 39th with a 229.

“We are just going about our business like we always have in the past. It’s just now our continued improvement is beginning to show,” Baszler said. “Our three seniors (Kalil, Mead, Peterson) have worked very hard during their careers, and they are leading us to where we are this year.”

The Jacks are also ranked in the top 60 for the first time in school history, getting as high as 56 before falling to 59. The Jacks also have an individual in the top 50 in Peterson. Peterson has finished runner-up in the first three events of the year and was ranked as high as 28th before settling in at 50th.

“The rankings are great, but it will feel even better if we can maintain our rankings,” Baszler said. “Rankings don’t mean much in any sport this early in the season.”

The Jacks did not have as much success in California Oct. 5 and 6 at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate, finishing in ninth place out of 19 teams. Peterson and Mead finished in a tie for 19th, while Kalil finished in a tie for 30th. Jenkins and Kyle Vandevoort rounded out the scoring for Jacks. Jenkins finished in a tie for 61st and Vandevoort a tie for 95th.

The Jacks wrap up the fall season Oct. 20 and 21 at the Santa Clara Invitational in San Jose, Calif.