Mesa, Ariz. - Kansas Wesleyan University’s Ben Hadden jumped out to a two-stroke lead despite adversity in round one of the 2019 NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship, playing his first 15 holes in howling wind before darkness halted the round Tuesday, finishing a 3-under par 68 Wednesday morning at 6:30 a.m.
Hadden leads the championship by two strokes over Texas Wesleyan University’s Victor Miron and Keiser University’s Carl Didrik M. Fossas, who both shot 70 in Tuesday’s morning wave. Miron helped Texas Wesleyan to a three-stroke lead over Rocky Mountain College. The Rams shot 293, leading a group of only six teams to break 300 in tough conditions Tuesday, laying over in to Wednesday morning.
News and Notes
- Six teams broke 300 on day one, including tournament leader Texas Wesleyan at 293. Five of the six were morning-round teams, and Kansas Wesleyan jumped in, in the afternoon, at 299.
- Texas Wesleyan was led by Victor Miron, who shot 70, one of two under par rounds to finish Tuesday, but both trail KWU’s Ben Hadden, who had the only round below 70 at 3-under par 68.
- The day’s other 70 belongs to Carl Didrik M. Fosaas, who shot -1 for Keiser.
News and Notes
- The entire tournament will begin early Wednesday, with players who need to finish Tuesday’s round beginning just after 6 a.m.
- Tee times for day 2 begin an hour earlier than scheduled, going off of No. 1 and No. 10 at 6:30 a.m.
- Scores were higher than expected due to above normal winds at Las Sendas, which stretched to more than 6,900 yards for Tuesday’s first round.
Top Ten Team Scores After Day One
1. Texas Wesleyan University 293
2. Rocky Mountain College 296
3. South Carolina Beaufort 297
4. College of Coastal Georgia 298
5. Keiser University 299
6. Kansas Wesleyan University 299
7. University of British Columbia 305
8. William Carey University 306
8. Oklahoma City University 306
10. Taylor University 307
10. William Woods University 307
Top 10 Individual Scores After Day One
1. Ben Hadden, Kansas Wesleyan 68
2. Victor Miron, Texas Wesleyan 70
2. Carl Didrik M. Fosaas, Keiser 70
4. Jackson Lawlor, Coastal Georgia 72
4. Mark Johnson, Coastal Georgia 72
4. Joe Bannon, Thomas 72
4. Bobby Dunphy, USC Beaufort 72
4. Ty Stites, Oklahoma City 72
9. Mitchell Thiessen, Rocky Mtn. 73
9. Reece Nilsen, Rocky Mountain 73
9. Jacob Thomas, USC Beaufort 73
9. Logan Carver, British Columbia 73
9. Logan Smith, William Woods 73
9. Tyron Davidowitz, Texas Wes. 73
9. Coleman Houk, Kansas Wesleyan 73
