Better now than later.

The Riverland Community College men’s golf team got one of its worst team rounds out of the way with the region and state tournament closing in. The Blue Devils shot a score of 328 to finished last out of six complete teams a the Bethany Lutheran Invite Saturday at Shoreview Country Club in St. Peter.

Riverland carded an 18-hole total of 328, led by a third-place overall effort from sophomore Jeff Clark.

Clark shot rounds of 39-36 for a 3-over-par day of 75. Minneapolis’ Nathan Johnson led the way with an even-par round.

Riverland’s remaining scores were all 84 or above, including a season-high round of 96 by Andrew Routh.

Joe Hewitt and Grady Rider shot 84s, and Brett Wuerflein added an 85.

&uot;I’d rather have this now than have it down at the end,&uot; said Riverland coach David Lillemon. &uot;We just didn’t play well. It was a really disappointing day for us.

&uot;We kind of took a step back today.&uot;

Shoreview, a course new to the team, was the shortest 18-hole venue the Devils had played all season.

&uot;If you’re unfamiliar with the course, it creates some problems,&uot; Lillemon said. &uot;But we just didn’t play well.&uot;

Rochester won the event with a 313, with the next five teams stacking up within seven strokes of each other.

The Blue Devils host a 7-team invitational Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Austin Country Club. The Region XIII and

Minnesota state tournament will be next Monday and Tuesday at Mankato.

Team standings -- 1. Rochester 313, 2. Bethany Lutheran 322, 3. Northland 323, 4. Minneapolis 325, 5. Ridgewater 326, 6. Riverland 328, 7. Minnesota West -- INC.