VALLEJO, Calif. -- The Bradley men's golf team returned to the course for the first time in nearly a month, and shot a 331 in the opening round of the Hiddenbrooke Intercollegiate Sunday to finish the first day of play tied for sixth among NCAA Division I teams at the par-72 Hiddenbrooke Golf Club.

The Braves opened the spring slate with a two-day tournament in California Feb. 16-17, but has not played since after the Grover Page Classic (March 2-3) was cancelled due to eight inches of snow.

Freshman Chris Niemiec (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles) and sophomore Coby Thompson (East Galesburg, Ill./Knoxville) shared top honors for the Braves after both shot 79 to end the day tied for 13th in the 53-person field. Junior Zach Wanken (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) enters Monday second round tied for 40th after shooting an 86 and freshman Earl Gerlach (Normal, Ill./Normal West) is one shot behind Wanken in a tie for 44th at 87. Sophomore Nathan Perry (Normal, Ill./Normal West) rounded out the team scoring for the Braves, carding an opening round 97 and is in 53rd place.

Junior Zach Zobrist (Morton, Ill./Peoria Christian) and junior Kyle Phelan (Fishers, Ind./Cathedral) are both in the field as individuals. Zobrist is tied with Wanken for 40th place at 86, while Phelan shot a 91 and is in 49th place.

South Dakota State is first among NCAA Division I teams, following a first-round 307. Tournament-host Drake is six shots behind South Dakota State at 313. Loyola finished the day in third among NCAA Division I programs (315) and is followed by Northern Colorado at 318. Columbia is five shots ahead of Bradley in fifth, with North Dakota and the Braves following in sixth at 331.

Bradley continues play at the 54-hole Hiddenbrooke Intercollegiate Monday with one round of play at the Hiddenbrooke Golf Club.