Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's golf team shot an opening round 297 to be tied for second place at the MIAA Championships Monday in Spring Hill, Kan.
 
The 11-team, 54-hole event is being held at the par 72 Sycamore Ridge Golf Club. Note the MIAA Men's Golf Team Champion is not decided by this tournament but by the aggregate results for four tournaments (two in the fall and two in the spring) throughout the year. This is one of those four tourneys; UNK was in sixth place after the first three events.
 
Just 16 strokes currently separates the field. Missouri Southern State (292) is five strokes ahead of the Lopers and Lindenwood with Northeastern State (298) and Fort Hays State (299) close behind.
 
English senior Bradley Hill is currently tied for fifth place with an even par 72 (36-36). His day included five birdies and 10 pars. The five birdies are tied for the tournament lead. Three golfers fired a 2-under 70 to be tied for the lead.
 
Also for UNK, Hebron junior Jay Cottam is tied for ninth (73; 36-37), Bancroft senior Preston Peters (40-36) and Kearney sophomore Cody Troudt (41-35) both shot a 4-over 76 to be tied for 24th with Kearney freshman Austin Murray tied for 40^th (78; 39-39). Cottam and Troudt both carded 13 pars with Peters having 12. Finally, Murray birded four holes.
 
The second round begins Tuesday morning.