MENOMONIE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire men's golf team kicked off spring competition today, taking first place out of eight teams at the Blue Devil Invitational at Chippewa Valley Golf Course.

Eau Claire finished with 285 strokes (+1) while the next closest team, UW-Stout had 295. The Blugolds also had a second team competing, which finished in seventh place with 320 strokes.

Ryan Grip (Jr.-Wausau, Wis./East) led the Blugolds as he took home medalist honors with 69 strokes on the par-71 course.

Tim McCormick (Fr.-Madison, Wis./Memorial) tied for second with 70 strokes while Loren Churness (Jr.-Durand, Wis.) and Ben Ziemann (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) each had 73 strokes to tie for fifth.

Leading the Blugolds' second team was Jimmy Hutchings (So.-Hudson, Wis.), who tied for 15th with 77 strokes.

The Blugolds will compete again Sunday and Monday at the Gustavus Adolphus Spring Invitational.