MESA, Ariz. -- The Bellevue University men's golf team turned in an opening-day team score of 9-over par and currently sits in a tie for 12th place after the first 18 holes of competition at the 2023 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships. The four-day, 72-hole, 29-team tournament is being played at the Las Sendas Golf Club. The course measures 7,004 yards and is par 72.
Play was suspended during the afternoon wave due to rain and continuous lightning strikes in the area. The remainder of Round 1 will be postponed until tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m. PST. Round 2 will be played immediately following at 6:30 a.m. PST. The day will conclude with a cut down to 17 teams and 40 individuals, including ties.
Powered by junior Hugo Ronnberg, the Bruins are 15 strokes off the team lead. Keiser is the tournament leader after shooting a 6-under team score of 282. The Seahawks' Jakob Stavang Stubhaug and Lindsey Wilson's Callum Waugh lead the 154-player field after both shot 4-under par 68s in the first round.
Ronnberg was the top BU golfer on the day after carding a 1-under 71, putting him in a tie for sixth place. His round was highlighted by three birdies and 13 pars.
Senior Floris-Jan Oosterhof registered a 2-over 74 and is in a tie for 43rd place. He had three birdies and 11 pars in the opening round.
Senior Alex Zillig collected three birdies in the first round, finishing with a 3-over 75, putting him in a tie for 54th place.
Senior Rodrigo Navarrete overcame a pair of double bogeys to collect a 5-over 77. He is currently tied for 84th place.
Rounding out the day for the Bruins was Hugo Brandt's 8-over par 80.
BU will tee off in Wednesday's second round at noon (PST).
