HERSHEY, Pa. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire men's golf team took 27th place after two rounds at the 2010 NCAA Division III Championship at Hershey Links today.

With 37 teams competing for the first two days, just 23 move on to compete in the final two rounds, Thursday and Friday. The Blugolds finished the tournament with 635 strokes, just nine away from making the cut.

Methodist University leads the field with 597 while Huntingdon College is in second with 599 strokes. In third place with 600 strokes is Guliford College.

Leading the Blugolds at the championship was Ryan Grip (Jr.-Wausau, Wis./East), who finished tied for 43rd. He shot a 74 today and 153 for the tournament.

Tying for 107th place was Tim McCormick (Fr.-Madison, Wis./Memorial) and Loren Churness (Jr.-Durand, Wis.) with 160.

Jimmy Hutchings (So.-Hudson, Wis.) tied for 130th with 162 strokes while Ben Ziemann (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) finished with 180 strokes in 187th place.