The University of Minnesota menâÄôs golf team put last yearâÄôs disappointments behind them and took second place at the Adams Cup of Newport. In their second tournament of the season, the Gophers finished 13 shots behind Texas A&M and 20 shots ahead of third place, Francis Marion University. The par-72 tournament was in Newport, R.I., and concluded yesterday. This finish is better than the sixth place tie earned at the Gopher Invite at Springhill Golf Course earlier in September. âÄúAfter coming off Springhill, playing very average as a team, there are some signs of some good things to come,âÄù associate head coach Andrew Tank said. The team carded two of its best scores all time with rounds of 284 and 287. Last year, the Gophers scored in the 280-289 range four times. âÄúWe played really solid yesterday, nothing amazing, but really solid golf,âÄù Tank said. As a team, the Gophers led the tournament in par four scoring (+8) and par five scoring (-18) and tied for first with 50 birdies. Individually, senior Victor Almstrom led the tournament with 14 birdies. With only one line-up change, the five Gophers all finished in the top 14 individuals , with Almstrom and first-year Derek Chang leading the team in a three-way tie for third with a score of 1-over par. Chang struggled during the first round shooting a 75, but came back in the second round to earn a 68. Juniors Ben Pisani and Thomas Campbell were 5-over in a three way tie for 11th. Senior Yu Katayama finished six over in 14th. Tank said the level of competition in the tournament was weaker than a typical Big Ten school with Texas A&M being the only test similar to what the Gophers would see from a conference opponent. âÄúAfter Texas A&M, the rest of the teams in the field were pretty average,âÄù Tank said. âÄúThe guys would tell you that they would have liked to play better, especially today, but it was good overall.âÄù