May 13, 2008

PLYMOUTH, Ind. - Fifth-ranked Johnson & Wales (Fla.) shot a four-under-par 284 in the opening round of the 2008 NAIA Men's Golf National Championship being held at Indiana National Golf Club.

The Wildcats were led by individual leader David Tobon who fired a four-under 68 and also had Nick Zappin (70) and Chris Hawley (71) in the top six.

Top-ranked Oklahoma Christian was the only other team to break par with a one-under-par 287 led by Fernando Gonzales who fired a 69 to stand a shot back of Tobon.

Also at three-under was Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) junior Sam Cyr. Playing in the last group of the day and without a bogey to that point, Cyr tripled his final hole after finding trouble in the trees lining the right side of the narrow ninth fairway.

Yesterday's Long Drive Champion, Brett Kirstein of Wayland Baptist (Texas) joined Zappin tied for fourth at two-under par while a group of four that includes Hawley, Oklahoma City's Anthony Michael, British Columbia's Cory Renfrew and individual qualifier Raphael Marguery from Missouri Valley.

In the team competition, Wayland Baptist, British Columbia and defending national champion Oklahoma City are all tied for third at six-over-par 294.

Second round tee times begin at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday as the teams once again tackle the 6,950 yard, par 72 layout at Indiana National with the 72-hole event continuing through Friday, May 16. The field of 144 golfers will be cut to the top 17 teams and 40 individuals after the completion of 54 holes on Thursday.