Matt Robertson fixed his tie before he signed his scorecard, and he had on his work slacks before scooting out of the parking lot at Brainerd Golf Club.
A two-hour weather delay during the first round of the Brainerd Invitational forced Robertson to hustle from the scoring room off to his sales job Saturday afternoon.
Leaving the course early wasn’t an option for Robertson, one of the several Lee University alumni in the field. He paid his entry fee and was among the first to play so he could get to work on time.
Plus, he was playing well.
“I’ve got my golf blood going again,” Robertson said after having completed his fifth round of golf since late 2008. “I’m pretty satisfied with the round.”
Severe weather conditions forced a delay at 11:45 a.m. and halted play at 5:06 p.m. More than half of the field completed their rounds Saturday, but those who did not will complete their first round this morning, starting at 8:30.
All golfers will tee off at the same time today as they did Saturday and with the same group.
Robertson and Wayne Woolfall led those who finished their rounds with 3-under-par 69s. Nobody who has yet to finish is better than 1 under.
Woolfall made four birdies in his round and returned from the weather delay to chip in for an eagle on No. 8.
“We sat around for a couple hours, then I went out and practiced some chips, but I was skulling everything on the range,” Woolfall said. “Then I go out there and knock it in.”
Mitch Hufstetler and Ryan Hulton shot 2-under 70s in the wet conditions, which led to a lift, clean, and place rule through the green.
“I’m happy with it, especially since Dr. (Neil) Spitalny replaced my left knee in December,” Hufstetler said. “This is my third competitive round since then, so I’m tickled.”
Spitalny, Lee freshman Tyler Hollister and Lee alum Jerod Baldwin are two shots off the lead.
“The greens were rolling well all day, and they didn’t change after the rains,” said Hollister, who birdied all four par-5s. “The layover was good for me because I was able to regroup. And when I went back, I was ready to play.”