SOLID START AT NATIONALS
May 13, 2008

Complete Stats

PLYMOUTH, IN:  The 10th ranked Texas Wesleyan University men’s golf team got off to a solid start at the 57th NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship at Indiana National Golf Club in Tuesday’s first round.  The Rams’ card of 298 places them in ninth place; however, they sit just four shots out of third place.

Texas Wesleyan is making its 47th appearances in the national tournament in 54 seasons of NAIA membership.  The team is tied for the most titles, six, by any one institution with Oklahoma City University and Hunting College (AL).

Johnson & Wales University (FL) leads the tournament with a four under par round of 284.  David Toban, one of three players from Johnson & Wales to shoot under par, leads all individuals at 68.

Stuart Martin turned in a very clean card for the Rams, who started on the back nine in Tuesday’s action.  After a bogey on his first hole (10), Martin birdied hole number two and had a double bogey on eight to sit at two over par (74).

Paco Saracho fired off five birdies, but a rollercoaster ride on the front nine led to a card of 74.  Saracho birdied two, bogied three, birdied four, had a double bogie on five, and birdied hole number six.

The trio of Martin, Saracho, and Hendon are tied for 30th with scores of 74.  Meanwhile Armando Villarreal is tied for 53rd at 76 and Kevin Doskocil is tied for 77th after a round of 78.

“We’re not disappointed with the start,” said head coach Kevin Millikan.  “Conditions got tougher as the round went on.  The wind really picked up at the end of the round, but all in all it was a pretty solid effort.  We left some shots out there, but we certainly did not lose a golf tournament today.”

The Rams will tee off on hole number one at 2:21 p.m. on Wednesday.

Fin. Player               Scores

T30 Mitch Hendon         74

T30 Stuart Martin        74

T30 Paco Saracho         74

T53 Armando Villarreal   74

T77 Kevin Doskocil       78

10  Texas Wesleyan       298