Kelley, Benge Lead Huskers in MinnesotaKelley, Benge Lead Huskers in Minnesota
Dillon Galloway
Men's Golf

Kelley, Benge Lead Huskers in Minnesota

Tommy Kelley and Jackson Benge produced Nebraska's top individual finishes, tying for 30th in an 84-player field at the 2nd Swing Gopher Invitational in Minnesota on Monday.

Kelley, a freshman out of Omaha Creighton Prep, led Nebraska on the course for the third consecutive tournament to open his college career by closing with a three-round total of 220 (+7) on the par-71, 7,489-yard layout at the Windsong Farm Golf Club in Independence.

Kelley put together rounds of 75, 72 and 73 to help the Huskers to a 13th-place team finish in a 15-team field with a three-round score of 889 (+37).

Benge, a junior out of Omaha Westside High School, matched Kelley with a 220 (+7) for his best individual tournament finish of the fall season. Benge produced rounds of 75, 73 and 72 for the Big Red.

Gavin Gerch, a junior out of Lincoln Southeast High School, added a top-40 finish for the Huskers by posting Nebraska's best individual round of the tournament with an even-par 71 on Monday. Gerch's opening round Sunday included his first eagle of the season on the par-5, 599-yard 12th hole.

Caden Mickelson and Zack Erstad rounded out Nebraska's five-player lineup in a tie for 80th at 234 (+21). Erstad, a freshman from Lincoln East, joined Benge and Kelley in putting up Nebraska's top individual score of the first round with a 75 (+4). Mickelson's second-round 75 and final-round 78 both counted toward Nebraska's team score in the five-count-four format.

Georgia captured the team title at 843 (-9), while Oklahoma took second at 849 (-3). Rutgers rounded out the top three in the team standings at 860 (+8).

Oklahoma's Ryder Cowan took home medalist honors with a 54- hole total of 200 (-13), six strokes better than tournament runner-up Mason Howell from Georgia with a 206 (-7).

The Huskers return to actionat The Blessings Collegiate in Fayetteville, Ark., Oct. 3-5.

2nd Swing Gopher Invitational
Maple Plains, Minn.
Windsong Farm Golf Club (Par 71, 7,489 yards)
Sept. 20-21, 2026

Final Team Results
1. Georgia - 288-282-273=843 (-9)
2. Oklahoma - 294-274-280=849 (-3)
3. Rutgers - 289-284-287=860 (+8)
4. Cincinnati - 289-287-286=862 (+10)
5. Little Rock - 291-290-284=865 (+12)
T6. Marquette - 298-282-286=866 (+14)
T6. West Virginia - 289-287-290=866 (+14)
8. Saint Thomas (Minn.) - 299-288-286=873 (+21)
9. Grand Canyon - 296-294-292=882 (+30)
10. Iowa State - 301-289-293=883 (+31)
T11. Oral Roberts - 301-290-293=884 (+32)
T11. Minnesota - 295-290-299=884 (+32)
13. Nebraska - 303-292-294=889 (+37)
14. Kent State - 305-293-296=894 (+42)
15. Miami (Ohio) - 304-297-306=907 (+55)

Final Individual Results
1. Ryder Cowan, Oklahoma - 72-63-65=200 (-13)
2. Mason Howell, Georgia - 72-70-64=206 (-7)
T3. JD Culbreth, Georgia - 71-70-69=210 (-3)
T3. Mischa Candinas, Marquette - 70-71-69=210 (-3)
T3. Vinny Cervantes, Marquette - 71-69-70=210 (-3)
T6. James Earle, Georgia (IND) - 71-64-76=211 (-2)
T6. Jack Crousore, Minnesota - 71-71-69=211 (-2)
T6. Lucas Gimenez, Oklahoma - 71-67-73=211 (-2)
9. Brayden Miller, Cincinnati - 72-68-72=212 (-1)
9. Bennett Espenshade, Rutgers - 73-70-69=212 (-1)

Nebraska Individuals
T30. Tommy Kelley - 75-72-73=220 (+7)
T30. Jackson Benge - 75-73-72=220 (+7) 
T36.  Gavin Gerch - 78-72-71=221 (+8) 
T80. Zack Erstad- 75-78-81=234 (+21)
T80. Caden Mickelson - 81-75-78=234 (+21)