Knights shoot 311, 20th after Day One

Men’s Golf National Championships – Day One Recap

Defending national champion Oklahoma City holds an eight-stroke after day one.

May 14, 2013

By Alan Grosbach, Manager of Communications and Sports Information

SALEM, Ore. – (Day One Individual Results | Day One Team Results | Second Round Pairings)

Defending national champion Oklahoma City closed day one of the 2013 NAIA Men’s Golf National Championships with an eight-stroke lead after the tournament’s opening 18 holes. The 62nd annual event is being played out at Creekside Golf Club and is hosted by the Cascade Collegiate Conference and Corban University (Ore.).

“We drew a game plan and stuck to that game plan,” said Oklahoma City head coach Kyle Blaser. “Their emotions were pretty even-keel today, which is something I stress with my guys. The way I approach it – today is over and tomorrow is a new day. The guys are anxious and ready to get back out there.”

The second-ranked Stars finished the round with three individuals under par en route to a team total of 280. Anthony Marchesani highlighted the squad and posted the best round of the opening day with a 4-under 68 that included back-to-back birdies on Nos. 12 and 13. The freshman from Rosebud, Australia had only one bogey on the day, which came with a four on the par-three sixth. Marchesani holds a one-stroke lead over teammate Sondre Ronold and Colin Brennan of Johnson & Wales (Fla.), who finished the day at 3-under par (69).
“Overall it was a pretty solid round and I didn’t make too many mistakes,” said Oklahoma City’s Marchesani. “I’m going to stick to the game plan that we set out in the practice round and good things will happen.”

Grand View (Iowa) rests in second-place after carding a first round 288. The Vikings’ Tyler Christians overcame a pair of bogeys on the front nine with four birdies on the backside, including a run of three-straight between holes 12 – 14, to enter the clubhouse at 2-under par (70). Joining Christians in the red is Mike Slavin at 2-under, while Matt Weeks closed the afternoon at even par.
Rounding out the top five are Johnson & Wales, Bellevue (Neb.) and Faulkner (Ala.) who are tied for third at 294.

The second round will begin play on Wednesday at 7 a.m. PDT with Grand View, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) and Blue Mountain (Miss.) starting on No. 10. Bellevue, Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) and Ben Johnson of Bethany (Kan.) kick off action on the front side with a 7:30 a.m. tee time.