Titans Struggle; Two Weather Stoppages Halt Tournament's First Day

Tuesday's first day of the NJCAA Men's Division I National Championship brought mixed results for Eastern Florida's men's golf team.

Playing at Duran Golf Club in Viera, the Titans teed off before the day's first rain began at 11:30 a.m., played through the precipitation and wrapped up in windy, partly cloudy conditions just as bad weather approached.

Play was suspended at 12:55 p.m. due to lightning with only the first threesomes, Eastern Florida, Indian Hills of Iowa and Midland, Texas having completed their first round.

Play resumed at 3:55 and was stopped again at 5:07 p.m., this time for the day with six teams having completed their first 18 holes.

For the Titans, Kerry Sweeney shot 71, Brad Bawden 74, Michael Keymont 75, Tyler Bennett 76, and Corey Herman 85.

Eastern Florida head coach Jamie Howell took Tuesday's results in stride.

"We got off to a slow start, finished No. 18 poorly," he said. "I think we played the 18^th hole three over par. That knocked us back a little bit. We hung in there really well. I know Corey had a bad day but Kerry played well. Brad hung in there the whole day.

"We didn't shoot ourselves out of it but we've got some work to do. Indian Hills is obviously very good and had a good round.

"We've got some work to do. The good news is we've got three rounds to do it if the weather cooperates. We'll be out there early tomorrow morning, which I like. We don't have to wait until the afternoon to play. That puts us in the right spot."

Play resumes at 7 a.m. Wednesday for teams that did not conclude the first round on Tuesday. The teams that concluded their first round will tee off at 7:30 a.m. to begin round two.

Play at Duran and continues through Friday. Live webcast coverage from holes nine and 18 can be viewed at www.efsctitans.com/golf-webcast

Live scoring is available at www.golfstat.com/home.html

The tournament field is: Eastern Florida; Wallace State, Alabama; Darton State, Georgia; Faulkner State, Alabama; Central Alabama; Indian Hills, Iowa; Iowa Western; Dodge City, Kansas; Hutchinson, Kansas; Garden City Community College, Kansas; Midland College, Texas; Odessa, Texas; McLennan, Texas; Western Texas; Ranger, Texas; Pima, Arizona; Eastern Arizona; Scottsdale, Arizona; Eastern Wyoming; McCook, Nebraska; Spartanburg Methodist College, South Carolina.

Individual competitors are Greyson Benavides, Paris, Texas and Chase Brown, Cape Fear, North Carolina. 

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Mark DeCotis, Manager, Athletic Communications