Braves Second After Opening Day Of NCAA Championships

SIMPSONVILLE, Ky. – Four players carded an even-par 72 or better to help the fourth-ranked UNCP men's golf team to a second place standing on the team leaderboard after the opening round of the NCAA Division II Championships on Tuesday at the par-72, 7,092-yard Cardinal Club Golf Course in Louisville, Ky.

The Braves (-3) are just six strokes off the pace set by 13th-ranked Central Oklahoma (-9) who used a 7-under-par 65 from tournament leader Josh Creel to sit atop the team standings for much of the afternoon. Ninth-ranked Western Washington (-1) was the only other team to post a below-par round on the day, while seventh-ranked Chico State (+1) and 18th-ranked Georgia College are share fourth place honors. Peach Belt Conference foe and 14th-ranked USC Aiken (+4) is tied for 10th place.

All-American Jordan Walor (-2) offset one bogey with a trio of birdies to turn in a 2-under-par 70 on the day and a share of fifth place on the individual leaderboard with eight other players. Carson Lanier (-1) shared a team-best with four birdies en route to a 1-under-par 71 and a tie for 14th place, while Michael Mullmann (E) and all-American Jonathan McCurry are in a 13-way tie for 23rd place after both tallied even-par 72s in the first round. Scott Lambert (+4) registered four birdies on the day as well, but is tied for 73rd place heading into Tuesday's second round.

UNCP will continue play in the 2012 NCAA Division II Men's Golf National Championships on Wednesday when it returns to the University of Louisville's Cardinal Club. The first of five individual tee times for the Braves is set for 7:30 a.m.

TEAM SCORES
1. No. 13 Central Oklahoma   279   -9
2. No. 4 UNC Pembroke   285   -3
3. No. 9 Western Washington   287   -1
T4. No. 7 Chico State   289   +1
T4. No. 18 Georgia College   289   +1
T6. No. 2 Barry   290   +2
T6. Indiana (Pa.)   290   +2
T8. No. 11 St. Edward's   291   +3
T8. No. 1 Nova Southeastern   291   +3
T10. No. 12 Grand Canyon   292   +4
T10. No. 14 USC Aiken   292   +4
12. No. 21 Colorado School of Mines   293   +5
13. No. 3 CSU-Stanislaus   294   +6
14. Central Missouri   295   +7
15. No. 28 Indianapolis   298   +10
16. No. 30 Wilmington (Del.)   300   +12
17. St. Thomas Aquinas   301   +13
18. Washburn   304   +16
19. Concord   314   +26
20. Post   334   +46

UNCP SCORES
T5. Jordan Walor   70   -2
T14. Carson Lanier   71   -1
T23. Michael Mullmann   72   E
T23. Jonathan McCurry   72   E
T73. Scott Lambert   76   +4