FREEPORT — Blackhawk Technical College’s Talons Men’s Golf team went to Freeport, Illinois, on Saturday for its first competition at the Highland 36 tournament hosted by the Highland Cougars.

After playing 36 holes at the Park Hills Golf Course, the Talons team finished +136, which was good enough for 19th place out of 21 participating teams. Illinois Central College was the winner at +8.

Talons Coach Nick Hagen said, “This was a well-run tournament with a professional staff and a quality awards presentation at the end. The tournament was 36 holes of continuous play on a difficult golf course with challenging greens. I’m proud of our team for keeping their attitudes positive during the long day of golf.”

The team had a long day, Hagen said, arriving at the golf course at 7 a.m. and leaving near 7 p.m. 

Talons golfer Wyatt Marshall finished in a tie for 17th place with a 36-hole total of +10 and rounds of 75 and 79.

“The guys hung in there well, and completed a marathon day for our first tournament. It’s a tough track, and you needed to be on the low side of the green frequently. Wyatt led the tournament for half of the first round, and that was cool to see,” Hagen shared.

The Talons compete in the Culver’s Edgewood Classic this Friday and Saturday, Aug. 29-30.

The Talons Men’s Golf team consists of Justin Bedard (Grayling, MI), Conor Ciembronowicz (Beloit), Ryan Daschner (Waterford), Corbin Kersten (Milton), Koen Lueck (Milton), Dayten Putnam (Beloit), and Wyatt Marshall (Janesville).