Goodchild ties a school record with a first round 67 to lead Men's Golf at Defiance Spring Invitational

By Tim Glon

DEFIANCE — Senior Zach Goodchild (Pickerington/North) tied a school record with a 3-under par 67 to lead the Ohio Northern men's golf team in the first round of the Defiance Spring Invitational on Saturday at Eagle Rock Golf Course.

The Polar Bears (17-40 overall) are tied with Earlham (Ind.) with 300s after the first round of the 36-hole tournament. Mount Saint Joseph leads the team standings with a 286, Transylvania (Ky.) is second with a 295 and Hanover (Ind.) is third with a 297.

Goodchild is first out of 101 golfers with his career-low 3-under par 67. He will take a 2-shot lead over Mikel Merker of Mount Saint Joseph into Sunday's final round.

His 67 ties the school record set in 2007 by Andrew Rahrig, who's 67 was a 4-under par score.

Freshman Ethan Smith (Chillicothe/Southeastern) is tied for 40th with a 77 and junior Nick Anderson (Mason) and sophomore Ryan Tatman (West Chester/Lakota East) are tied for 54th with 78s.

Round 2 is slated for Sunday.

Team Standings

1. Mount Saint Joseph 286, 2. Transylvania (Ky.) 295, 3. Hanover (Ind.) 297, t4. Ohio Northern 300, t4. Earlham (Ind.) 300, 6. Tiffin "B" 301, t7. Wooster 303, t7. Wooster "B" 303, t7. Defiance 303, t10. Franklin (Ind.) 306, t10. Mount Saint Joseph "B" 306, 12. Heidelberg 307, 13. Tiffin "C" 310, 14. Columbus State CC 314, 15. Ohio Northern "B" 323, 16. Trine (Ind.) 324, 17. Manchester (Ind.) 335.

Top 5 Individuals

1. Zach Goodchild (ONU) 67, 2. Mikel Merker (MSJ) 69, t3. Kevin Imhulse (MSJ) 70, t3. Jack Berger (Transy) 70, t5. Zach Treilbos (Transy) 71, t5. Colin O'Hern (Wooster) 71, t5. Brenden Tully (Wooster) 71.

Ohio Northern "A" Individual Results

1. Zach Goodchild 67, t40. Ethan Smith 77, t54. Ryan Tatman 78, t54. Nick Anderson 78, t79. Joshua Turich 82.

Ohio Northern "B" Results

t19. David Gorman 75, t69. Joe Slusher 80, t79. Riku Watanabe 82, t92. Brant Morton 86, t98. Tanner Rader 93.