JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Senior Coby Thompson (East Galesburg, Ill./Knoxville) fired a season-best one-over par 72 Monday to help the Bradley men's golf team finish the day tied for eighth at the Benbow Invitational at the par-71 Jacksonville Beach Golf Club.
Thompson is tied for 10th after one round of play and is seven shots back of individual leader Josh Nichols of Appalachian State, who carded a six-under 65 to highlight Monday's play. The Braves shot 308 in the opening round and are tied with Alabama State for eighth in the team standings.
Complete individual standings were unavailable Monday evening. Freshman Kyle Gunther (Dunlap, Ill./Peoria Christian) is four shots behind Thompson after an opening round 76, while fellow freshman Travis Kreiter (Brimfield, Ill./Brimfield) shot 78. Freshman Daniel Young (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) carded 82 and senior Nathan Perry (Normal, Ill./Normal West) rounded out the team scoring with a first-round 88.
Sophomore Corey Verseman (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) is in the field as an individual and carded a career-best 77 in his first round of the season. Freshman Andrew Weisenborn (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) is also playing as an individual and shot 81 during Monday's play.
IUPUI is the team leader after 18 holes, firing a three-over par 287 on the first day. The Jaguars hold a four-shot edge on second place Appalachian State (291) and eight shot advantage on Cleveland State and Georgia Southwestern which finished the day tied for third at 295.
Wisconsin-Green Bay rounds out the top five at 297 and is followed by Creighton in sixth at 299. Florida A&M is seventh in the field after shooting 307, with Bradley and Alabama State following in a tie for eighth at 308. Tournament-host Butler is 10th overall at 309, while Eastern Illinois completes the field in 11th at 312.
Bradley closes out play at the Benbow Invitational Tuesday with one round of play beginning at 6:30 a.m. (CDT).
