NEW ULM — Fresh off of his second high school state golf tournament appearance this past Wednesday, 17-year-old New Ulm Eagles golfer Mason Buegler continued his strong play Saturday at the New Ulm Country Club.

With a 2-over-par 73, Buegler ended his first round at the 66th annual New Ulm Invitational as the Championship Flight leader. He was one stroke ahead of eight-time Invitational winner Johnny Larson and two strokes ahead of Paul Andersen.

Ethan Kraus shot a first-round 77 to take fourth in the Championship Flight after Round 1, while Ben Pearson, James Fromm and Phil McClellan shot 78s to tie for fifth.

Buegler had a double bogey on the second hole and bogeyed the fifth, 10th and 12th holes, but he had birdies on Holes 13, 16 and 17 to help him stay in front of a surging Larson. Larson birdied the first hole but had a bogey on Hole 2 and a rough stretch of four straight bogeys to finish the front nine. He rebounded on the back nine, however, with six pars, two birdies and just one bogey.

Also on Saturday in the Regular Division First Flight, Shane Kvidera led the way with a 77, while Nate Voges was a stroke behind in second. Jack Ballard and Cory Vee tied for third with 81s, while Patrick Bock shot an 83 to sit in fifth. The Regular Division Second Flight saw Mike Peterson lead with an 81, while Todd Liebrenz and Erich Korth shot 84s to sit in a tie at second, Ed Hayes carded an 85 for fourth and Eric Hensler shot an 86 for fifth.

In the Regular Division Third Flight, Ben Calhoun and Shane Traulich each carded an 84 to tie for first, while Craig Larson and Tony Kliber shot 86s to tie for third and Josh Sabatino and John Eichten shot 88s to tie for fifth. In the Regular Division Fourth Flight, Brady Dalton had a total to net par score of 67 to lead, while Matt Weight had a 70 for second, Tylor Hopp had a 72 for third, Greg Thomas had a 75 for fourth and Jeff Wesselmann had a 76 for fifth.

In the Senior First Flight, Dean Warta shot a 73 for first, while Mike Ballard carded a 74 for second, Jeremy Raths and Phil Leise had 78s to tie for third and Brad Johannes had a 79 for fifth. In the Senior Second Flight, Jim Gibbons had a strong opening round with a 69 to lead, while Virgil Buysman had a 75 for second, Gene Voges had a 77 for third, Pete Eichten had a 78 for fourth and Don Olson had a 79 for fifth.

Matt Pearson led the Senior Championship Flight with a 77 on Saturday, while Darren Anderson and Wallace Hayenga had 78s to tie for second, Jeff Anderson had an 81 for fourth and Tim Andersen and Ron Atkinson had 82s to tie for fifth.

The Top 12 players from the Championship Flight on Saturday will play in the second round Sunday morning. Those players are Buegler, Larson, Paul Andersen, Kraus, Ben Pearson, Fromm, McCellelan, Scott Paa, Ethan Kirchberg, Colin Huffman, Aiden Guggisberg and Jeff Ferrell. Not making the Championship Flight but continuing in Sunday’s Presidential Flight will be Colton Anderson, Ryan O’Keefe, Luke Krauklis, Hunter Hoaglund, Ryan Neuman, Matt Holm, Andis Kancans, Andrew Metzen and Nate Weisenburger.