ROCHESTER — The Riverland Community College men’s golf team took to the Rochester Invitational Wednesday afternoon at the Eastwood Golf Club, finishing fifth out of six complete teams.

The Blue Devils were playing without two of their top five varsity players and still managed to put up a respectable team score of 312. Defending state and Region 13 champion Central Lakes Community College edged MCCC up-and-comer Minneapolis, 299-303.

Madison Area Technical College, not a conference school, placed third with 307, host Rochester shot 311 and Riverland was one stroke back for fifth.

Sophomore Jeff Clark, Riverland’s returning sixth-placed National Junior College Division III National Tournament golfer, shot a 5-over-par 75 to lead the Blue Devils.

&uot;I can’t remember a putt I made all day,&uot; said Clark, who doubled bogeyed the 17th but narrowly missed a 30-footer for birdie on the 18th. His 75 tied for sixth overall.

Brett Wuerflein, playing the No. 5 spot for Riverland, shot the team’s second-best score with a 76. Andrew Routh carded a 79 and Joe Hewitt contributed an 82. Jason Hubly’s 91 did not count towards Riverland’s final team score.

CLCC’s Justin Heitkamp was the meet medalist with a 2-under round of 68. Clayton Johnson of Minneapolis shot an even-par 70, and Madison’s Chris Benson came in third with a 71.

Heitkamp, who tied for 11th while helping CLCC to fourth at the NJCAA National Tournament, bogeyed No. 17 for the only five on his scorecard.

Riverland stays on the road for an MCCC Southern Division meet hosted by Minnesota West Saturday morning at Worthington.

Results:

Team standings -- 1. Central Lakes 299, 2. Minneapolis 303, 3. Madison Area 307, 4. Rochester 311, 5. Riverland 312, 6. Ridgewater 324.