WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- Sophomore Sam Norman captured a top-five individual finish as the Battlin' Bear golf teams opened their season against a competitive field in Florida. 

No. 18 Men's Golf Tie For Eighth

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The Rocky men surged two spots up the leaderboard during Tuesday's final round after rebounding from a second-round slump. Leading the charge for the Battlin' Bears was Sam Norman, who fired a one-over-par 72 in his final round to finish tied for fifth overall at 4-over 217 (72-73-72). His consistency was a strong point throughout, co-leading the field with 38 pars and posting the fourth-best par-4 scoring average (+5) in the tournament.

College of the Desert transfer Braxton McDonald saved his best round for Tuesday, carding a 2-over 73 to finish tied for 33rd at 13-over 226 (75-78-73). Freshman Spencer Gill followed closely, tying for 43rd and posting his lowest final-round score at 16-over 229 (76-78-75). Kristjan Burkelca finished one stroke back, tied for 48th at 17-over 230 (74-79-77), while freshman Cody Grounds rounded out the lineup tied for 66th at 25-over 238 (77-82-79). Grounds delivered one of the tournament's highlights on Tuesday, sinking an eagle on the 10th hole to become one of only four players in the entire field to record an eagle at PGA National.

The Battlin' Bears finished with a combined team total of 50-over 902 (297-308-297) to share eighth place alongside conference rival Bellevue University and Eastern Florida State College. Top-ranked Keiser University claimed the team title. Statistically, Rocky ranked fourth in par-5 scoring (-8), sixth on par-3s (+16), tenth on par-4s (+67), and recorded 30 total birdies—the seventh-most in the tournament.

No. 25 Women's Golf Place 12th Overall

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The No. 25-ranked Rocky women delivered a steady showing to claim 12th place in their season-opening tournament.

Freshman Natasza Klimko paced the Bears in her collegiate debut, tying for 16th overall after turning in a team-best 11-over 227 (77-76-74). Kirsten Smith tied for 47th at 25-over 241 (81-77-83), while Catalina Garcia closed strong on Tuesday to tie for 63rd at 31-over 247 (87-83-77).

A pair of freshmen made their collegiate debuts, rounding out the Rocky lineup as Anna Lende tied for 74th at 36-over 252 (81-84-87), and Maggie Urian finished tied for 77th at 41-over 257 (81-85-91).

The Battlin' Bears recorded a team total of 97-over 961, displaying remarkable consistency with rounds of 320, 320, and 321. Rocky posted the seventh-best par-3 scoring average (+21) and logged the eighth-fewest double-bogeys or worse (25). No. 2-ranked Keiser captured the women's team title.

Up Next

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The Battlin' Bears continue the fall season next week, traveling to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, to compete in the Mayville Fall Invite.