NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. – The Trailblazer golf team hit the road again Monday and Tuesday for their third tournament of the 2021 spring season and brought back a pair of top-10 finishes, including a top-five finish from sophomore Matt Jordan.

The tournament didn't get off to the best start, with the opening round Monday morning being delayed for over an hour due to frost.

The Trailblazer golfers didn't let this delay bother them, with Matt Jordan leading the way for VU, shooting a 77 in the opening round, including an even par on the back nine with three birdies.

Brock Craney was the second place Trailblazer finisher Monday with a 78 in his opening round, followed by Bryce Kirchner's 80, Jackson Roberts' 85 and Cole Parmer shooting a 103.

"We did not play well as a team," VU golf coach Dennis Chattin said after Monday's round. "Matt Jordan had a nice round with a 77 on a PGA tournament course."

"Matt's score is particularly good considering he finished the front nine at five over par," Chattin added. "I was pleased that Matt didn't just pack it in and not perform on the back instead he really picked up his game, closing the back nine even including three birdies."

The second day of the tournament on Tuesday saw weather again impact the round as winds played a factor on an already difficult PGA-level course.

Kirchner improved on his opening round to shoot a team-leading 78, which helped move him up the individual leaderboards to his eventual eighth-place finish.

Matt Jordan finished the final round with an 80, which set him at fifth place with a combined 157 for the tournament.

Cole Parmer took eight shots off his opening round to shoot a 95 on Tuesday, with Jackson Roberts rounding out the Trailblazers day with a 106.

As a team VU placed 11th out of 12 schools, with Parmer and Roberts finishing the tournament at 70 and 73 respectively on the individual board.

"This was certainly not the team result we wanted but Matt and Bryce had a great effort in this tournament," Chattin said. "Matt finishing fifth and Bryce finishing eighth in a field of 80 against mostly four-year schools is certainly a great performance."

"This is a very strong golf course where a PGA event is held where the pins were set as difficult as I've ever seen for a college tournament. We also had Bryce discover a dent in the clubface of his driver, so he had to play the entire tournament with a 3-wood and no driver. A great effort on his part."

"Tuesday was very windy and that's why scores went up significantly, so to maintain their focus and post the scores they did was impressive."

TEAM RESULTS

Marian – 620

Taylor – 632

Holy Cross (IN) – 641

Madonna U. – 651

Spring Arbor – 652

Evangel U. – 663

Georgetown College – 664

Huntington U. – 665

Mt Vernon Nazarene – 667

Grace College – 679

Vincennes University – 698

Bethel (IN) – 701

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

Matt Jordan – 77 80 – 157

Bryce Kirchner – 80 78 – 158

Jackson Roberts – 85 106 – 191

Cole Parmer – 103 95 – 198

Brock Craney - 78