Gophers freshman Daniel DiBenedetto finished seventh on high bar at the Winter Cup finals in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Minnesota sent three athletes to the event. Junior Zack Chase and sophomore Ellis Mannon battled the flu Thursday and did not qualify for the second day of competition held Saturday.

DiBenedetto finished 34th in the all-around competition with 77.35 points. He scored 13.25 on high bar, 12.9 on parallel bars and 13.2 on pommel horse in the finals.

He said he felt he was underscored on high bar.

“I went out there, and I hit my set, and that’s all I really had control over,” he said.

After competing in his first Winter Cup, DiBenedetto said he likes competing in NCAA competitions more because of the higher energy level.

“[In the] Winter Cup you’re out here competing for yourself,” he said. “I just didn’t like it as much.”

DiBenedetto finished fourth on high bar in the preliminary round. He earned 17 points overall and was one of 42 athletes who advanced to the finals.

On Thursday, Chase scored 12.35 on still rings and 13.75 on vault. Mannon scored 12.2 on pommel horse and 10.8 on parallel bars.

The Winter Cup is held to determine the final seven members of the U.S. men’s senior national team.

All three gymnasts will be back with the Gophers next Saturday when the team travels to Oklahoma.