Staff photo by Jeremy Behnke J.J. Svac, a member of the Minnesota State Unversity golf team, hoists the New Ulm Invivational trophy Sunday after carding a 143 in the tournament, which was crammed into one day after heavy rains washed out play on Saturday.

NEW ULM — J.J. Svac had built himself a pretty good lead after 27 holes on Sunday at the New Ulm Invitational.

Svac had a score of 106 after the initial round of 27 holes and finished the 36-hole event with a 143 in the Championship Flight, three strokes better than last year’s champion Andrew Peter, who finished strong on the final nine (33) to finish with a 146. New Ulm’s Jimmy Fromm finished third overall with a 147 and Shane Kvidera finished fourth overall with a 149.

The 58th annual event was rained out on Saturday, meaning everyone had to golf 27 holes on Sunday. The Championship Flight then had to golf an additional nine holes, which made for a long day in less than ideal conditions.

“It was pretty wet, but the toughest part was the wind,” Svac said. “It was pretty windy out here, so right around par was a pretty good score.”

Peter, who won last year’s event in a playoff, gave chase at the end. But Svac also finished strong and that helped him win in his tournament debut.

“I wasn’t aware of what he was doing in front of me so I was just playing my own game, I ended up finishing birdie, birdie actually, which I guess I might have needed,” Svac said.

In the First Flight, Jeff Anderson took first with a 119 and New Ulm boys’ golf coach Dan Janke was second with a 120. Andy Pettit was third with a 121 and New Ulm girls’ golf coach Todd McKeeth and Randy Paa tied for fourth with a 122.

Tom Steinbach won the second flight (122), followed by Mike Jacobson (122) and Eric Hensler (126).

Bob Skillings took home the championship in the Third Flight. He shot a 126, one stroke better than Craig Spelbrink (127). Doug Kartio won the Fourth Flight with a score of 105. Brandon Johnson, Dave Black and Rick Kamm tied for second at 107.

Jim Hannegan took first in the Senior A Flight (111) with Joe Nichols, Jeremy Raths, Ronald Schmidt and Ray Sagedal all finishing tied for second with a 116.

Jim Schmidt won the Senior B Flight (93) and Erik Newhouse was second (101).