Eagles Staying With NAIA's Best

Round One Results 

(2/18/08 - Men's Golf) CASA GRANDE, Ariz. - Junior Ryan Kelley shot a 4-under 68 and sits just one shot back of the overall lead as Concordia sat in 6th place overall after the first round of the OCU Intercollegiate Event, Monday afternoon at Francisco Grande Golf Club.

Kelley led an Eagle squad that shot a team score of 298 on the 7,500-yard, par-72 course. Jordan Andrews and Max Cohen each carded 4-over rounds of 76 while Andrew Kitching was two shots behind them at 78. Sterling Whitaker rounded out the five-man squad with a score of 82.

The tournament, which currently had four of the NAIA's top 10 in the field, has the Eagles just four shots behind Southern Nazarene (Okla.) and within two shots of both #3-ranked Oklahoma City and #7-ranked Berry (Ga.). Top-ranked Oklahoma Christian currently leads the way at 282 with #2-ranked British Columbia at 289.

"This course really sets up well for our guys," said head coach Joey Cerulle. "We have some big hitters who really like to get into the ball off the tee. There's a lot of room in the fairway and the guys knew that heading into the morning. They were confident and excited about playing and it really showed."

Round two of the 54-hole event is currently underway. Complete results from day one of the event will be posted later in the day.