OKLAHOMA CITY – Monday was a very good day for the Mid-America Christian University golf program. The men's team fired their best round of the season so far, and for the first time since 2015, two ladies took to the links in MACU colors.
MACU's men currently sit third out of 13 teams after round one after they posted a team total of 290. The Evangels are eight shots behind the tournament leaders Kansas Wesleyan University, and three strokes off the pace of second place Bellevue University (Neb.). MACU is four shots ahead of both Southwestern Christian University and Central Baptist College, who round out the top-five teams.
Jake Reddington and Gage Gibson are tied for sixth individually, as each shot a 1-under par 71 in the first round. The two got to that number in differing ways, however, as Gibson posted 13 pars in the round, while Reddington carded five birdies. Both ranked in the top-10 in par four scoring – Reddington 10th at +1 and Gibson second at -2 – Gibson was even par on the par-3 holes, and Reddington took advantage of the par-5s to the tune of 3-under par.
Isaac Maston shot an even par 72, and Wyatt Bonds had the Evangels' final counting score – a round of 76 (+4). Kaden Upton and Austin Davis each shot 79, and Cooper Spurle shot an 81.
On the women's side, both Kirsten Westlake and Hannah Price were playing their first rounds of collegiate golf. Westlake tied for the third-most pars in the round with 11, and Price was one of only 16 players to record a birdie – which she did on the par-4 15th hole. Both players were 1-over par on the par-5 holes, as Westlake shot 84, and Price carded a 90.
The event will conclude with an 18-hole round on Tuesday morning. The round will begin with a shotgun start at 8 a.m.
