John Oda of UNLV
(UNLV photo)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN (May 15, 2017)--Led by junior John Oda from Honolulu, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels have taken a one shot lead after the first round of the NCAA Midwest Regional at the
Kampen Course at Purdue University.
Oda birdied four of his last seven holes to post a five-under 67 to take a one-shot lead over Edoardo Lipparelli of the University of Illinois and Trent Wallace, an individual representing Illinois State University.
For UNLV, Shintaro Ban recorded the next best score of the day, a two-under 70, followed by Harry Hall at 73, and Justin Kim and Taylor Montgomery with 77s. The team total of 1-under 287 puts them one shot ahead of Illinois and the New Mexico, with South Carolina four back and three more teams just five shots back.
UNLV is competing in its NCAA-record 29th straight regional, and has rounded into form just in time for the postseason, winning the Mountain West Championship. As Coach Dwayne Knight told UNLVRebels.com, "We have played well recently, which gives us some confidence going into the regional," Knight added. "We have played pretty steady all year. We have had a lot of opportunities to win and I think we are headed in the right direction."
Paced by Lipparelli, Illinois also got some good play from Nick Hardy who shot a 71. But Dylan Meyer, #1 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Amateur Rankings, struggled to a 75.
New Mexico was the only team with three under par rounds, with Andrej Bevins, Andre Garcia, and Gustavo Morantes each shooting 71.
The tournament host Purdue is one of the teams tied for fifth place at 292.
The low five teams and the low individual not on a qualifying team will qualify for the NCAA Championship, to be held at Rich Harvest Farms in Elk Grove, IL, May 26-31.
ABOUT THE
NCAA Division I Midwest Regional
54 hole men's NCAA Regional from which the
low
teams advance to the NCAA Championship.
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