Minnesota Scene: U golfer Mendez leads Big Ten meet, with team shot back

Gophers freshman Jose Mendez had a one-stroke lead after 36 holes of the Big Ten men's golf championship on Friday at French Lick, Ind.

Mendez, a two-time medalist this spring already, shot rounds of 69 and 74 for a 1-under 143 total. He had four birdies each round. He had only one bogey his first 18 holes before struggling a bit with four bogeys and one double bogey his second 18.

Philippe Schweizer of Purdue was in second place at 144 after two 72s.

In the team competition, Minnesota was tied with Illinois for second place at 595, a shot back of Purdue.

Jon DuToit and Jon Trasamar of the Gophers were tied for 16th at 150.

After the first round, the Gophers were three strokes behind Purdue with a 295 while Mendez had a two-shot lead.

Purdue upset the No. 12 Gophers 3-0 on Friday in Big Ten softball in West Lafayette on Ashley Burkhardt's solo homer in the fourth inning and Andie Varsho's two-run shot in the fifth.

• Eastview junior guard Madi Guebert, a two-time Star Tribune All-Metro selection who sparked the Lightning to a come-from-behind victory over Bloomington Kennedy in the girls' basketball Class 4A championship game, gave a verbal commitment to South Dakota State.

• Several Minnesota Olympians will compete Saturday and Sunday in Lupus 'Spiel USA, a charity curling tournament at Four Seasons Curling Club in Blaine. John Shuster, Allison Pottinger, Jessica Schultz and John Benton are among the Olympians participating in the pro-am tournament. Saturday's four sessions begin at 9 a.m., and Sunday's two sessions begin at 10 a.m. The event, which includes a silent auction, is free for spectators.

• The Gophers' baseball game against Florida State, rated No. 6 by College Baseball Central, on Friday evening in Tallahassee was rained out. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday, with games at 1 and 5 p.m.