(Photo courtesy of Schreiner University)
(Portions of this story courtesy of Schreiner University and Southwestern University)
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Led by juniors Cheyne Kendall and Jimmy Keener, the Schreiner University men's golf team has the lead after the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship. Kendall and Keener each shot 70's (-2) in the first to lead the Mountaineers to a team score of 285 (-3).
Playing in the very last wave of players, Kendall and Keener were in fifth place individually after playing their round. Freshman Matt McClung was one shot back at 71 (-1) and in 13th place. Junior Zach Oliver and sophomore Phil Stewart fired 74's (+2) and are 47th in a field of 210 players.
Schreiner's total was the best on the East Course by 10 strokes. Methodist, who sits in second place with a score of 286 (-2) after one round, played on the West Course for its first round. LaGrange is in third place at 290, followed by defending national champion UT-Tyler and Hope College in fourth place at 291. The Mountaineers were the only team in the top nine to play the longer course on Tuesday. There are 41 teams in the field and all players will switch courses for the second round on Wednesday.
Schreiner was not the only SCAC school in play as fellow member Southwestern University shot an opening round 297 (+9) in the first round of play.
Junior Jordan Cowart helped pace the Pirates with a first round 69 on day one, finishing tied for third in the individual race. He carded four birdies in his first round and just one bogey as he is two strokes behind individual leader, Brian Burt of Hampden-Sydney College.
Every Pirate golfer was able to stay under 80 as Cameron Button also posted a 73 on Tuesday and is tied for 32nd.
Andrew DeHennis just missed earning a spot in the top 100 after posting a score of 77 while Cody Hebert and James Grachos each carded a 78.
After the completion of Wednesday's round, the top 15 teams will advance to the final 36 holes of play on Thursday and Friday to determine the national champion. For both Schreiner and Southwestern, this is their second overall appearance in the National Championship, both making an appearance and making the cut for the Top 15 in 2013.
