Newberry Men’s Golf In 14th After First Round Of NCAA Championships

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. - The Newberry College men's golf team sits in 14th place following the first round of the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championships at the Fighting Joe course of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at the Shoals on Monday. The Wolves shot a 20-over par 308, struggling on the back nine after a strong performance on the front nine.

The Wolves fought unseasonably cool and windy conditions on the par 72, 7,150 yard Fighting Joe course, and scoring conditions became more difficult as the round progressed. The Wolves were just 5-over at the turn, but were 15-over on the back nine. Newberry is in the first flight of tee times Tuesday, starting on the back nine at 7:30 a.m. central time.

South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year Matthew Campbell (Rome, N.Y.) led the Wolves in the first round, shooting a 3-over par 75. Campbell had three bogeys and a birdie on the front nine, but birdied holes 10 and 11 before a double bogey and bogey later in the round to come into the clubhouse tied for 31st.

Ben Lown (North Augusta, S.C.) was just one stroke behind Campbell with a 4-over par 76. Lown birdied holes 2 and 3 and recorded six bogeys later in the round. He is tied for 40th after the first round. Matthew Killen (Yorkshire, England) shot a 6-over par 78 and is tied for 55th place, while Daniel Stanley (Inman, S.C.) shot a 7-over par 79 to sit in a tie for and Chandler Gruenemeier (Jacksonville, Fla.) shot a 9-over par 81 and is tied for 79th place.

Lynn University is the tournament leader after the first round, shooting a 3-over par 291. Only seven schools shot under 300 on Monday. Newberry is just two strokes outside of the top 10 and the Wolves are confident in their ability to improve on Monday's scores and shoot towards the top eight.

The top eight schools after Wednesday's third round will be placed in a bracket and face off in medal match play to declare a national champion.

To follow the Wolves in Tuesday's second round and throughout the remainder of the tournament, please go to http://www.ncaa.com/content/mens-dii-golf-leaderboard

NCAA Division II National Tournament
Course:Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals: Fighting Joe Course Par 72 - 7150 yards

Top Five Team Results (First Round)

Rd. 1 Relation to par

1. Lynn (Fla.) 291 +3
2. Cal State-Monterey Bay 294 +6
3. Central Oklahoma 295 +7
4. Central Missouri 296 +8
Fort Lewis (Colo.) 296 +8
14. Newberry 308 +20

Newberry Individuals
Rd. 1 Relation to par

T31 Matthew Campbell 75 +3
T40 Ben Lown 76 +4
T55 Matthew Killen 78 +6
T60 Daniel Stanley 79 +7
T79 Chandler Gruenemeier 81 +9