Ohio had its best first round this season Monday at the Dayton Fall Invitational, posting a team total of 302.
“The course here is pretty difficult,” Ohio coach Bob Cooley said after today’s round. “We played really poorly the first three holes, but then we played under par as a team for the rest of the day. The greens are really fast; everyone in the tournament, including us, missed a lot of putts.”
Senior Byron Firestone echoed his coach’s sentiment, noting the speed of the dance floor.
“The green and the pin locations were difficult,” Firestone said. “There was a shot I had that I spun the ball from the back of the green off of the front of it.”
Difficulties aside, the Bobcats finished the day in seventh place following the first round.
Freshman Brad Burgess posted the best day for Ohio with a 73, leaving him tied for 11th among all golfers.
Seniors Michael Lamping and Brad Lucas both carded a 76 on the day in a tie for 31st. Firestone played through the wrist injury he sustained in the last tournament, carding a 77 on day one.
“My wrist hurt the most when I hit the ball,” Firestone said. “It wasn’t a big factor though, I just wanted to play.”
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne went into the clubhouse tied for the tournament lead with Western Kentucky (295). Host school Dayton (296), Valparaiso (299) and Oakland (301) rounded out day one’s top five.
The tournament will resume Tuesday morning. Ohio will start as a team on holes four, five and six, holes the team played well Monday.
“I’m looking forward to round two,” Cooley said. “Our worst holes, one, two and three, are our last holes. I’m confident that we will finish strong.”
tj790511@ohiou.edu
