ROCK ISLAND – The Augustana Vikings men's golf team opened their season with a fourth-place finish out of 16 teams at the Highland Championship at Highland Springs Golf Course over the weekend.  

The Vikings amassed a team score of 602 and were led on the links by Alexandre Thery. He begins his collegiate career with a 147, shooting rounds of 73 and 74 to finish seventh individually. Sam Evenson trailed narrowly behind Thery, totalling 151 with rounds of 76 and 75.

Freshman golfers Patrick McGrath and Kevin Cortez rounded out Augie's scoring, each totaling 152 and placing in the top 20 individually. Adam Soczka turned in a 150 total score on the second of Augustana's four teams in attendance, which placed him 13th individually. 

Augie finished one stroke behind third place St. Ambrose and just three strokes back from second place Illinois College. 

For their next competition, the team will remain close to home for the Duane Chaney Invitational on September 7-8 at Pinnacle Country Club in Milan, Ill.