The invitational, hosted by the University of Illinois Springfield at the Piper Glen Golf Club, was shortened due to weather concerns in the area for Sunday.
The Screaming Eagles posted a 303 first-round score, behind only Lewis University’s 288, and seven strokes ahead of the host Prairie Stars.
Juniors Zach Breault (Bridgeport, Illinois) and K.O. Taylor (Madisonville, Kentucky) led USI with round scores of 74 each, good for a tie at sixth. Taylor’s round represents the fourth-straight round under 75, dating back to the Parkside Spring Invitational. Breault has improved his score in each of his last four rounds, with 74 tying his second-best performance this season.
Sophomore Nate Caudle (Wayne City, Illinois) posted a 76 for a t-13 finish. Caudle has posted sub-80 rounds in each of his last five, and has posted just one round over 80 dating back to the start of the season in September.
USI Men’s Golf closed the regular season on Saturday, and now begins preparations for the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, beginning April 21 at the Panther Creek Country Club, also in Springfield, Illinois.
