DICKINSON, N.D.- Kristjan Burkelca and Grace Metcalf shook up the program record books to lead Rocky Men's and Women's Golf to victories at the Dickinson State Invitational. 

Featuring a field of their Frontier Conference foes, the Battlin' Bears made an early-season statement to back up being picked as the preseason favorites. The men collected a 19-stroke victory, and the women won by ten strokes. 

On the men's side, Kristjan Burkelca stole the show, breaking the Rocky program record with a total score of 17-under-par 199 (69, 65, 65). Burkelca turned in back-to-back rounds of seven-under-par 65 to run away with the individual victory in Dickinson. His 54-hole total versus par breaks the previous program record set by Reece Nilsen in 2018-19 (16-under-par 197). 

It wasn't just Burkelca who impressed for the Battlin' Bears, as more Battlin' Bears turned in strong outings to help lead Rocky to the victory. Sam Norman (74, 66, 68) and Jared Smith (69, 69, 70) tied for fourth overall with a total score of eight-under-par 208, and Tye Boone followed in sixth place with a score of six-under-par 210 (71, 71, 68) to round out the Battlin' Bear scorers.  

Aidan McDonagh also finished inside the top ten with a score of three-under-par 213, placing eighth overall. 

Rocky finished with a team score of 44-under-par 820 (279, 270, 271), winning the tournament by 19 strokes over second-place Bellevue University. 

For the Rocky women, Grace Metcalf and Tyla Potgieter led the way with the top two finishes in the field. Metcalf tied for the second-best score in program history, totaling a four-under-par 140 (70, 70) finish to win the individual title. Potgieter followed in second overall, scoring two-over-par 146 (75, 71) following a strong second round on Tuesday. 

Kadence Fischer placed seventh with a total score of six-over-par 150 (75, 75), and Kirsten Smith rounded out the top ten with a total score of 11-over-par (75, 80) to wrap up the Battlin' Bear scorers. Alivia Webinger followed closely behind, tying for 13th overall with a score of 13-over-par 157 (78, 79). 

The Battlin' Bears earned a team title with a total score of 14-over-par 590 (295, 295), besting runner-ups Montana Tech by ten strokes. 

Up Next

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The Battlin' Bears will return home and host the Beartooth Invitational at Laurel Golf Club starting September 29th.