Findlay Freshman Thrill on Day 1 | Oilers Lead Doc Spragg
Findlay, Ohio – After a record-setting start to the 2019 season, a year that was ultimately cut short because of COVID-19, the University of Findlay men's golf team watched 343 days come and go since their previous competition. That delay in competition finally came to an end on Monday, September 21 as the Oilers began their 2020 season at Findlay Country Club, playing the first two rounds of the Doc Spragg Fall Invitational.
The event is playing host to teams from ten schools, all of which participate in the Midwest region. Through 36 holes, the Oilers hold a five-shot lead after posting a score of 571 (-5) which is tied for the third-best 36-hole start in school history. The University of Indianapolis is in second at even-par while Hillsdale College sits in third at five-over par. Findlay's B team is in fourth at +15.
Despite fielding a lineup that includes a pair of seniors who decided to return for a fifth year, it was Findlay's freshman that stole the show on the first day of a season that does not conclude until next spring. Freshman Justin Atkinson and Donnie Professori, participating in their first-ever collegiate golf tournament, battled to shoot 140 (-4) and 141 (-3), respectively.
Aktinson, a freshman from Brookfield, Ohio, opened up his day with an even-par 72, but turned up the heat in the second round to shoot a 68 (-4) that included a pair of eagles. His 36-hole score of 140 is tied for tenth all-time at Findlay. That score is good enough to have the newcomer tied for the lead in the event alongside Hillsdale's George Roberts and UIndy's Oliver Mast.
Not to be outdone, fellow freshman Donnie Professori is solo fourth after rounds of 69 (-3) and 72 (E). A native of Wexford, Penn., Professori is second in the field in par 3 scoring at even-par and is two-under on the par 5s.
Senior Sam Griffith, who holds two of Findlay's top four 18-hole scores all-time, in currently tied for 13th after rounds of 72 and 74 have him at two-over for the tournament. Right behind Griffith is fellow senior Luke Kelly, who also decided to return to Findlay after last year's season was cut short. Kelly, a returning all-American, is tied for 15th after shooting a 76 (+4) in the opener, but rallying to shoot 71 (-1) in the final 18-holes.
Rounding out the Oilers is junior Tanner Grzegorczyk who is also tied for 15th at three-over after rounds of 74 and 73, respectively.
Junior Caleb Westfall, a 2018 all-conference selection, is in solo-fifth while playing on Findlay's B squad. Westfall put together a pair of 71s to finish the day at two-under.
Junior Hunter Foltz is currently tied for 20th overall with a score of 148 (+4) while senior Parker Haynes is tied for 30th after rounds of 77 (+5) and 74 (+2). Senior Brock Kehres and sophomore Jack Soper round out the Oilers B team scores at 154 (+10) and 156 (+12), respectively.
Findlay's C team is in 13th and was led by sophomore Connor Ohlrich who posted a 150 (+6) and is tied for 26th. Sophomore Holden Scribner shot a 152 (+8) and is tied for 34th while freshman Ty Schobelock shot a 157 (+13) and freshman Luke Gazarek shota 158 (+14). Freshman Austin Boley shot a 76 (+4) in his second round to finish the day with a 166 (+22).
Freshman Zach Crane competed as an individual and shot a 172 (+28).
The final round will begin tomorrow at 9:00 am at Findlay Country Club. Live stats can be found HERE while a live video stream, produced by UFTV, is also available.