SMITHVILLE, Mo. — Behind a collective 286 (-2) performance the Concordia-St. Paul men's golf team finished round one of the NSIC Championships in first place. Three Golden Bears finished the day inside the top five at the Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, Missouri.
Sean Leutner had the standout performance of the afternoon for CSP, carding his best single round score of the season a 68 (-4) behind seven birdies, the most of any golfer in the opening round. The freshman's previous single round low came in the second round at the CSP Fall Brawl when shot a 70 (-2).
The opening round score of 68 (-4) is tied for the second lowest single round score of any CSP men's golfer at the NSIC Championships with Brandon Sperling who shot a 68 (-4) at the 2022 NSIC Championships.
Leutner opened the first round with a birdie on 561 yard, par five 17th hole before collecting birdies on holes three, seven and nine on the front nine where he shot a 35. The freshman collected three more birdies on holes 11, 12 and 14 to shoot a 33 on the back nine and finish the day four under par.
With a first round score of 68 (-4), Leutner ended round one with a two stroke lead on Minnesota Crookston's Marc Bofarull who shot a 70 (-2) in the opening round.
Josh Esterley shot a 72 (E) in round one, collecting five birdies and nine pars to finish round one in a tie for fifth place. Esterley started the day hot with birdies on holes two and three to shoot a 35 at the turn. On the back nine Esterley shot a 37 adding birdies on holes 12 and 17 to finish the day at even par.
Senior Trey Timm carded a 72 (E) in the first round, collecting two birdies and 14 pars. Timm's 14 pars were tied for the most of any golfer in the opening round, the senior's two birdies came on holes one and 18 to card an identical score of 35 on the front and back nine to finish the day at even par.
Carson Boe rounded out the team scoring for CSP, shooting a 74 (+2) in the opening round. Boe collected four birdies in the opening round, three of which came on the front nine where he shot a 34. The freshman finished the day with a 40 on the back nine to end round one two over par.
Chase Camilli carded a 74 (+2) in the opening round as the final member of the CSP five. Camilli notched four birdies in round one, three of which came on the front nine where carded a 34 as part of a two over par round to end the day in a tie for 12th place.
As a team the Golden Bears ended round one with an eight stroke lead over Bemidji State and Winona State, who are tied for second after shooting a 294 (+6) in the opening round.
The second round of action at the NSIC Championships gets underway tomorrow morning with a 9 a.m. shotgun start at the Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, Missouri.
