MESA, Ariz. – Ty Stites of Oklahoma City University finished the first round of the NAIA men's golf championships three strokes off the lead at Las Sendas Golf Club.
Stites, a sophomore from Sallisaw, Okla., turned in a first-round score of 36-36–72, which has him tied for fourth. The second-ranked Stars are currently tied for eighth place in the team standings.
The second round is slated to begin at 9:30 a.m. CDT (7:30 a.m. MST) Wednesday with Oklahoma City teeing off at 3 p.m. CDT (1 p.m. MST) on the 10th hole.
Through 18 holes, Stites has drained three birdies. He buried birdies on the sixth, 13th and 18th holes. Carl Didrik M. Fosaas of Keiser (Fla.) and Victor Miron of Texas Wesleyan are tied for the individual lead with a 32-38–70.
OCU posted a 306, 13 strokes behind No. 3 Texas Wesleyan, who carded a 293. Ninth-ranked Rocky Mountain sits in second place with a 296 and No. 8 South Carolina Beaufort is in third with a 298.
The Stars' Jack Madden, a freshman from Dungannon, Northern Ireland, Ireland, produced a first round score of 39-37–76, sinking a birdie on the 15th hole. Carson Seals, a junior from Ardmore, Okla., of OCU turned in a score of 41-37–78.
Peri'Don Castille has provided Oklahoma City with an a 40-40–80. Castille, a freshman junior from Dallas, turned in the Stars' lone eagle on the day on No. 6, which is a par-5, 532-yard hole. Brandon Strathe, a sophomore from Owasso, Okla., added an a 40-48–88.
The weather started off in the mid 60s and climbed to a high of 80. Winds started off with an 8 mph east wind, increasing to 15-20 mph with gusts near 35 mph.
Results