HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – On a day that saw three schools break the Great American Conference’s Men’s Golf Championship first-round scoring record, Southern Nazarene emerged with a two-stroke advantage after 18 holes from the Arlington Course at the Hot Springs Country Club on Sunday.
Four Southern Nazarene golfers shot between 70 and 74 to lift the Crimson Storm to a 1-over 289 team score. Dylan Igo posted the low round, a 2-under 70 to place in third. Cristian Valderrama followed with an even-par 72 and Luke Coppedge shot a 1-over 73. Michael Hearne, Division II’s No. 3 ranked player and reigning GAC individual champion, registered a 2-over 74.
Henderson State, the defending GAC Champions, and Southern Arkansas share second place at 3-over 291. The Reddies, the No. 5 team in the most recent NCAA Division II Central Region rankings, had three golfers shoot par or better led by Gil Debusscher’s 1-under 71. Drew Greenwood and Brice Howard carded matching 72’s.
GAC Men's Golf Championships - First Round Results || Second Round Pairings
For the second time in three years, SAU’s George Adams shared the 18-hole lead after he shot a 3-under 69. He made six birdies, tied for the most in the field. Kirk Peterson, who entered the tournament as SAU’s No. 5 golfer, posted an even-par round of 72 to tie for seventh.
Arkansas-Monticello recorded its best round at the GAC Championships by 11 strokes in posting a 5-over 293 to end the round in fourth place. Theodor Karlsson joined seven others at even par in a logjam at seventh place.
Arkansas Tech, No. 3 in the Central Region and Southeastern Oklahoma State, No. 9 in the Central Region share fifth place, three strokes in back of UAM. Brian Belz, the 2013 GAC individual champion, matched SAU’s Adams with a 3-under 69. Like Adams, he made six birdies and played the four par 3s in 3-under par. Mason Horner led the way for the Savage Storm with an even-par 72.
Southwestern Oklahoma State, the fourth-ranked team in the Central Region, ended Sunday in seventh place. Manuel Arzuaga and Jake Duvall shot matching 72s. East Central finished one stroke in back of the Bulldogs. Jason Goben and Jordan Bates each carded 1-under 71s as ECU became the only school with multiple players under par after the first round.
Harding and Ouachita Baptist rounded out the field. Northwestern Oklahoma State’s five golfers competed as individuals as the Rangers complete the transition process into NCAA Division II. Mason Banger recorded the low round for the Bisons, a one-over 73.
The second round will begin at 7:30 AM on Monday with the golfers from Ouachita Baptist and Northwestern Oklahoma State opening play.