With so many golfers back from last year's state runner-up team, Century had high expectations coming into 2009.

This season hasn't quite turned out how the Patriots had hoped, but on Monday, they took a big step toward another great finish.

With medalist Kavin Dvorak leading the way, the Patriots won the BismarckCentury Invitational at Riverwood Golf Course. Century's score of 311 was eight better than second-place Bismarck and 11 ahead of St. Mary's.

It was the second team win of the season for the Patriots, who have been chasing Bismarck all season.

"We have the talent to play good enough, and finally came through,"Dvorak said. "Everybody played well. We put up a score that we know we can shoot."

Dvorak, a junior, carded a 74 to earn medalist honors for the first time this season. Right behind him were teammate Jack Bietz and Bismarck's Casey Gleich at 75. Peter Pomonis carded a 79 and Rob McLeod an 83 to round out Century's top four.

Century coach Lynn Gress said this season has had a familiar feel.

"We've got guys like Peter and Kavin and Jack and Matt (Menge) and Rob who were all at that state tournament, and were all feeling that excitement," Gress said. "You feel like you had a good year.

"So then you come into this year thinking, 'Oh, boy. We're going to do better.' And you don't. … We're having the exact same season as last year."

Considering the Patriots used a victory at Riverwood to build to second-place finishes at the regional and state, that may not be a bad thing.

Dvorak was a two-time medalist last year, winning at Hawktree and Riverwood. But this season he had been up and down and was in danger of finishing out of the region's top 10 in scoring average. Players who make that cut are automatic individual qualifiers for state.

Monday's 74 vaulted Dvorak past several players into a tie for eighth place, punching his ticket to Hankinson.

"I just felt Kavin needed to have a round like he did,' Gress said. "I'm really proud of him for what he did today, and then eking into that top 10."

Dvorak started his day on 11 and got off to a steady start, parring his first eight holes. He followed that up with the first of his three birdies on No. 1, sinking an 18-footer.

"I finally made a putt," Dvorak said. "The other ones I hit pretty close. I haven't been putting really well lately, and Ifinally got a couple to fall."

Dvorak picked up another birdie on No. 5, but then ran into trouble on No. 6, getting a double-bogey.

"I just played aggressive and hit one in the water," he said.

But Dvorak closed strong. On No. 10 hit a great approach shot from a tough lie to put him in position to win the tournament.

"On 10, Iwas kind of in a divot," he said. "I hit one to within about 3 feet.I just had a nice uphill birdie putt, and Iguess that was what ended up guaranteeing me the win."

Although Gleich ended up one stroke off the lead, he did finish with the top scoring average for the season(72.83). Joining him in the top 10 and also earning trips to state were teammates Oliver Boeckel and Austin Gunderson.

Century also had three qualifiers - in Dvorak, Pomonis and Bietz.

"I was happy with Bietz," Gress said. "He's just been hitting it so solid the last couple weeks in practice."

Bismarck-Century Invitational

At Riverwood Golf Course

Team Scores

1. Century 311. 2. Bismarck 319. 3. St. Mary's 322. 4. Dickinson 325. 5. Minot 332. 6. Mandan 337. 7. Turtle Mountain 338. 8. Jamestown 352. 9. Williston 363.

Individual Results

Top 10

1. Kavin Dvorak, Cen, 74. 2. (tie) Jack Bietz, Cen, and Casey Gleich, Bis, 75. 4. Cody Duchscherer, Min, 76. 5. Tanner Megal, SM, 77. 6. Taylor Klundt, Bis, 78. 7. (tie) Chandler Pender, Dic, Jarl Abrahamson, Dic, Michael Gilchrist, SM, and Peter Pomonis, Cen, 79.

By team

Century (311): Kavin Dvorak 74, Jack Bietz 75, Peter Pomonis 79, Rob McLeod 83, Matt Menge 84, Jacob Dehne 90.

Bismarck (319): Casey Gleich 75, Taylor Klundt 78, Jordan Bosch 81, Oliver Boeckel 85, Brittian Bentz 85, Casey Vetter 86.

St. Mary's (322): Tanner Megal 77, Michael Gilchrist 79, Jake Deforest 81, Josh McCormick 85, Davis Becker 85, Casey Dohm 92.

Dickinson (325): Chandler Pender 79, Jarl Abrahamson 79, Tanner Halter 81, Mike Malkowski 86, Cole Baker 87, John O'Brien 88.

Minot (332): Cody Duchscherer 76, Rand Hammer 80, Brendan Dick 87, Ryan Rasanen 89, Ian Visina 89, Devin Blada 91.

Mandan (337): Brandon Boff 81, Colter Schwagler 82, Ethan Marcellais 85, Andrew Miller 89, Chris Neubauer 95, Coulee Luger 100.

Turtle Mountain (338): John Ross Desjarlais 81, Larimie Keplin 81, Nevin Gillis 85, Jack Malaterre 91, Weston Poitra 92, Zach Hall 99.

Jamestown (352): Blake Harris 81, Miles Traiser 84, Nick Graves 89, Mitch Smyth 98, Brandon Stahlhut 100, Troy Borowicz 101.

Williston (363): B.J. Mahar 80, Heath Glenn 86, Robby Keehn 98, Ryan Jessen 99, Nate Smith 99, Derek Anderson 106.

All-WDA team

1. Casey Gleich, Bis, 72.83. 2. Cody Duchscherer, Min, 74.67. 3. Oliver Boeckel, Bis, 76.17. 4. Peter Pomonis, Cen, 77.00. 5. Jack Bietz, Cen, 77.33. 6. Nevin Gilliss, TM, 78.00. 7. Brandon Boff, Man, 78.33. 8. (tie) Kavin Dvorak, Cen, and Rand Hammer, Min, 78.50. 10. Austin Gunderson, Bis, 78.67.

n NOTE:All-WDA team is based on season scoring average. Top 10 automatically qualify for state.