The Minnesota men’s golf team shook off a tough opening-round performance at the Windon Memorial Classic Sunday and used a brilliant second-round to finish the day tied for fourth place at the par-71 Lake Shore Country Club in Glencoe, Ill.

The Gophers shaved 19 strokes off their first-round total of 296 and carded a tournament team-low score of 7-under par 277 during round two to climb within 14 strokes of team leader Kent State heading into Monday’s final 18 holes.

Senior Clayton Rask and junior Victor Almstrom led the charge for Minnesota, with both players turning in season-low rounds in the afternoon session. Rask fired a 5-under par 66 and Almstrom carded a 4-under 67 during the second round as both players finished the day tied for 11th place at 1-under 141, four strokes behind individual leader David Lipsky of Northwestern.

Sophomore Ben Pisani is tied for 25 at 2-over 144, while sophomore Justin Kaplan and senior Andy Paulson are tied for 43rd at 6-over 148.

NCAA Men’s College Golf
Windon Memorial Classic Oct. 7-8, 2007
Lake Shore Country Club
Glencoe, Ill.
Par 71, 6,667 yards

Team Scores: 1. Kent State, 599; 2. Northwestern, 569; 3. Michigan, 572; T4. Minnesota, 573; T4. Purdue, 573; 6. New Mexico, 575; 7. Indiana, 577; 8. SMU, 579; 9. Northern Illinois, 580; 10. Marquette, 582; 11. De Paul, 585; 12. Missouri, 590; 13. Kansas, 597.

Top 5 Individuals: 1. David Lipsky (NU), 137; T2. Jonathan Bowers (NU), 139; T2. David Ludlow (Kent), 139; T2. Kyle Moore (NU), 139; T2. J.P. Paiement (Kent), 139; T2. Jon Sauer (NM), 139.

Minnesota Individuals: T11. Clayton Rask, 141; T11. Victor Almstrom, 141; T25. Ben Pisani, 144; T43. Justin Kaplan, 148; T43. Andy Paulson, 148.