Men's Golf is second of 8 in tight field after first round of OAC Championships
By Tim Glon
WEST LAFAYETTE -- Senior Tyler Davis (Liberty Center) fired an ever-par 72 to lead Ohio Northern into second place after the first round of the 2017 Ohio Athletic Conference Championships on Friday at River Greens Golf Club.
The Polar Bears (45-30-1 overall) are 10 shots behind first place Otterbein with a 296.
Mount Union is two shots back of ONU in third with a 298, John Carroll is fourth with a 302 and Baldwin Wallace is fifth with a 304 in a tight field.
The 40 golfers actually played 27 holes on Friday, but their final nine hole scores will not be counted until the second round is completed on Saturday morning.
The players will then play their third rounds Saturday afternoon and the final 18 holes on Sunday.
Davis is tied for third place individually with his 72 on the 6668-yard course.
Senior Blaine Ricketts (Belle Center/Ben Logan) and junior Zach Goodchild (Pickerington/North) are tied for sixth with 73s.
Sophomores Nick Anderson (Mason) and Joshua Turich (Centerville) are tied for 24th with 78s.
The top 14 players and ties after the 72 holes are completed earn All-Conference honors.
Otterbein's Kris Clarke and Kurt Fortman are tied for Medalist honors with 70s.
Team Standings
1. Otterbein 286, 2. Ohio Northern 296, 3. Mount Union 298, 4. John Carroll 302, 5. Baldwin Wallace 304, 6. Capital 311, 7. Muskingum 317, 8. Heidelberg 319.
Top 14 Individuals (All-OAC)
t1. Kris Clarke (Ott) 70, t1. Kurt Fortman (Ott) 70, t3. Tyler Davis (ONU) 72, t3. Connor O'Grady (JCU) 72, t3. Matt Kerschner (BW) 72, t6. Blaine Ricketts (ONU) 73, t6. Zach Goodchild (ONU) 73, t6. Austin Wells (Ott) 73, t6. Tyler Elgin (Ott) 73, t6. Scott Schroeder (BW) 73, t11. Buster Thomas (MtU) 74, t11. Sean Croel (MtU) 74, t11. Luke Engle (MtU) 74, t11. Mitchell Cook (Cap) 74, t11. Brock Jamison (Berg) 74.
Ohio Northern Individual Results
t3. Tyler Davis 72, t6. Blaine Ricketts 73, t6. Zach Goodchild 73, t24. Nick Anderson 78, t24. Joshua Turich 78.