KIRKSVILLE, Mo. -- Bearcat golfers Brian Steele and Brad Nipper earned top ten finishes as SBU finished just a stroke out of third place at the Truman Bulldog Classic.

Bryan Steele

Steele, a sophomore from Springfield, shot a one-under 70 in the first round of the two day tournament, which placed him tied for third on the leaderboard after the first day, while Nipper shot an even-par 71. Both golfers slipped a little in the final round, each shooting a three-over 74. Steele ended up tied for seventh, while Nipper came in tied for ninth.

SBU finished as a team 29 stokes off winner Central Missouri (569), but was just one stroke behind third-place Missouri Southern. Washburn took second with a 577. Just four strokes separated the third through sixth-place teams, as Southern finished with a score of 597, SBU with 598, Missouri Western 599, and Truman 600.

The Bearcats showed some improvement from their last tournament; SBU defeated both Rockhurst and Missouri Western at the Kirksville Country Club, two teams that finished ahead of SBU at last week's Missouri Intercollegiate tournament in Sunrise Beach, Mo., where SBU placed tenth among 16 teams.

The rest of the SBU squad improved from the last tournament as well, as everyone shot a lower score than before. Senior Justin Sellin gave the Bearcats their third-lowest score, a 12-over 154, while Matt Buschman was just a stroke behind with a 155 in his season debut.

Next up for the Bearcats is the Northeastern State Classic, at Emerald Falls Golf Club, in Broken Arrow, Okla. The two-day event tees off on Monday, September 21.