Trojans Third Following Opening Round of National Championship
SILVIS, Ill. – The Taylor men's golf team showed its grit in the opening round of the NAIA National Championship as the Trojans battled nasty weather and the stiff test of TPC Deere Run to climb into third place following the opening round of competition.
Steady rain and wind made the drenched 6,732-yard, par-71 layout of TPC Deere Run quite a challenge but the Trojans answered the call with a gutsy performance.
The Trojans got a pair of 1-over par 72's from redshirt junior Javan Johnson and sophomore Drew Pickering to lead the way in the opening round. Johnson battled back from a rough start that included a pair of double bogeys on the par-5 second and par-4 fourth holes to post 72. The Franklin, Indiana native made four birdies to get back to even before finishing with a bogey on the difficult par-4 18th.
Pickering's round was a clinic in ball striking as the Indianapolis native hit 15 greens in regulation, making three bogeys but adding a pair of birdies for his own 72.
Fellow sophomore Noah Ross utilized stellar par-3 play to card a 2-over par 73 in the opening round. The Upland, Indiana native played the par-3's in 3-under par, tied for the best score on the par-3's in the field in the opening round.
Erik Fahlen produced one of the highlights of the day for the Trojans as the sophomore collected one of just three eagles recorded on the day. Fahlen hit a beautiful cut 7-iron from the right trees on the par-5 17th hole then rolled in the 5-footer for eagle on his way to a 7-over par 78.
Freshman Adam Kasitz struggled in round one with an 83.
The Trojans fired a team score of 295 (+11) to finish the opening round in third place among the 30-team field. Top-ranked Point leads the field at 290 (+6) followed by No 2 Keiser at 292 (+8). The Trojans are third followed by No 9 Texas Wesleyan and No. 15 Southwestern Christian each at 297.
Four players are tied for the individual lead at 2-under par 69. Johnson and Pickering are tied for 12th place at 72 followed by Ross in a tie for 16th place at 73.
The Trojans will be back on the course for round two tomorrow morning with Kasitz leading TU onto the course at 9:10 am (CST) off hole ten. Fans can follow live scoring at golfstat.com.