ELK RIVER, Minn. - UW-Eau Claire senior Derek Bauer (Inver Grove Heights, MN/Eagan) is one of seven players tied for medalist honors and the Blugold men's golf team is in third place after the first day of the 54-hole Twin Cities Classic which got underway at the Elk River Country Club Saturday.

Host Gustavus Adolphus is the team leader with a one-over-par 289. St. John's University is five back at 294 while the Blugolds are seven strokes back at 296. There is a gap of 14 strokes between the Blugolds and fourth-place Central College of Iowa which totaled 310. Rounding out the field were Augsburg College at 312, Concordia 314, Nebraska Wesleyan 315, St. Thomas 316, MSOE 317, Bethel 318, St. Mary's 319, Wartburg and Simpson 321, Loras 324, Luther and Macalester 328 and Buena Vista 329.

The Blugolds' 296 is better than the 299 they had after the first round last year or the 300 they totaled on the first round in 2005. In each of the previous two years, the Blugolds won the prestigious tournament.

Bauer matched par on the Elk River course with a 72 as did six other players including three from Gustavus. Sophomore teammate Ben Ziemann (Eau Claire/Memorial) was two strokes back at 74 and in a tie for 10th place while senior Mason Milner (Onalaska) and sophomore Aaron Nelson (River Falls) were three back and among a group tied for 13th at 75.

The 17-team field will compete in Ramsey on The Links of Northfork Sunday. The tournament will conclude Monday at Minnesota Valley Country Club in Bloomington.

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