Gophers head men’s golf coach John Carlson has made it known that he wants his team to finish strong. He got his wish this week, as Minnesota had a solid first and third round but a poor second round that sunk the team at the Kikkor Golf Husky Invitational.

Minnesota shot 300-313-298 — 911 to finish 10th at the Invitational at the Olympic Course at Gold Mountain in Bremerton, Wash.

Host team Washington collectively shot an impressive 2-under-par 862 to run away with the team title. The middle of the pack played very evenly, with only 27 strokes separating fifth-place San Diego State from 12th-place Pepperdine.

Junior Alex Gaugert paced the Gophers in the invitational and fired a three-round 6-over-par 222 to finish tied for 18th individually. Senior Erik Van Rooyen and freshman Jon DuToit tied each other for the second straight week, finishing 30th with a score of 226.

Three golfers from Washington came out on top individually. Cheng-Tsung Pan shot a 5-under-par 211 to win, and Chris Williams and Trevor Simsby finished second.

Minnesota will compete again next weekend at the William H. Tucker Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M.