Panthers alone in eighth after first round at NCAA championship
May 13, 2008

BRASELTON, Ga. – LaGrange got off to a good start in the first round of the NCAA Division III Men's Championship on Monday at the Chateau Elan Resort. The Panthers were alone in eighth place in the 35-team field after a first day total of 307.

LaVerne (Calif.) leads second place Skidmore (N.Y.) by 10 shots. The Panthers are only six shots back of Skidmore in the standings. Top-ranked and nine time national champion Methodist is four shots back of the Panthers in ninth place.

The tournament is being played on two courses at the Chateau Elan Resort. The Panthers played on the Chateau course Monday and will play the Woodlands course on Tuesday. The Woodlands course played on the average three shots harder than the Chateau course Monday. Both courses are par 71.

Junior Ryan Willis and sophomore Bo Tiller led the Panthers with 4-over par rounds of 75. Willis was 1-under through 13 holes before finishing five-over the rest of the way. Tiller played the front nine at even par before also running into trouble on the back nine.

Junior Anthony Yacovazzi recovered from a rough front nine to finish with a 7-over 78. Yacovazzi was 6-over at the turn but had a couple of birdies on the back nine to finish strong. Senior Bo Howard and junior Alex Elorriaga each shot 8-over par rounds of 79. The Panthers were one of only four teams to have all five golfers shoot under 80 in the first round.

The tournament continues through Friday. The tournament will be cut to 23 teams after today's second round.