Men's Golf in sixth after opening round of NACC Championship

HAVEN, Wis. – On a cool and windy Sunday afternoon at Whistling Straits, the Concordia University Wisconsin Men's Golf team ended the opening round of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Championship in sixth place. Chris Payne led the Falcons with an 81 and is in 11th place at the par 72, 6,6750 yard Irish Course.

Just nine golfers shot under 80, with MSOE's Jacob Phelps leading the Championship with an even-par 72. Three Edgewood College golfers shot a 4-over-par 76. Edgewood College leads the tournament with a 312 team score, while MSOE is in second place with a 313 total.

Payne (junior, Waukesha, Wis.) birdied a pair of holes and made seven pars en route to his 9-over-par round. He had to finish the 18th hole on Monday morning because the first round was suspended due to darkness.

Sophomore Mike Loftus (Germantown, Wis.) shot a 12-over-par 84 to tie for 21st after he made 10 par putts, including three in a row on the front nine. Sophomore Bill Jones (New Holstein, Wis.) shot an 87 to tie for 30th after he made seven pars.

Freshman Evan Rabas (Sherwood, Wis.) carded a 15-over-par 87 to also tie for 30th place. He drained a birdie putt to end his round, while also making six par putts. Freshman Oliver Sadiq (Elkhart Lake, Wis.) rounded out the Falcons lineup with an 89 after he recorded a birdie on the 14th hole and four pars to conclude his round.

CUW and the other nine teams from the conference begin the second round at 9 a.m. The third and fourth rounds of the NACC Championship won't be played until Apr. 21-22 at Stonebridge Country Club in Aurora, Ill.