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AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Northern Colorado junior Stephen Bidne had the best performance of his collegiate career this weekend, while the Bears men's golf team turned in its second strong showing in as many tournaments to start to the 2009-10 season.

Bidne, from St. Paul, Minn., finished the three-round format of the Gene Miranda Falcon Invite with a 10-under-par 206 to finish four strokes ahead of anyone else and claim medalist honors at the Air Force tournament.

Bidne shot 68 and 69, respectively, during two rounds Saturday before returning Sunday with another 69 to finish four strokes ahead of Washington State's Austin Hurt. This is the first individual win for Bidne since he claimed the top spot at the Colorado School of Mines Spring Invitationalin March 2008.

Northern Colorado finished eighth as a team, combining for an 867 team score, just 12 strokes back of tournament-winner Colorado State. The Bears, who, among other teams, finished ahead of Colorado and Denver, finished 17 out of 18 teams in this same invitational two seasons ago and 11th out of 17 last season.

"I'm so proud of my guys," Northern Colorado coach Chuck Scheinost said. "We're now two events into our fall season, and both times we've had some really, really positive outcomes. Stephen was so strong throughout the tournament this weekend, and it showed in the final standings. He finished four strokes ahead of anybody else out there on the course."

Nick Bisogno, who had the Bears' best individual showing at last week's Fairway Club Invitational in Nebraska City, Neb., finished tied for 36th with a 4-over-par 220, and Rich Lash came in tied for 42nd after carding a 221 (+5).

"We're making some definite progress as a program," Scheinost said, "and I'm really pleased with how the guys are playing. We're now getting to the point where our mistakes are costing us from winning tournaments instead of just not finishing last. That's a huge step, and one I knew we could make."