SILVIS, Ill. – After weather delayed the start of the tournament, Southeastern University officially opened play at the NAIA Men's Golf National Championship on Wednesday. The Fire posted a team score of 298 in the first round at TPC Deere Run, placing them in 19th place in the 29-team field at +14.
The tournament, originally scheduled for 72 holes, has been shortened to 54 due to Tuesday's complete washout.
Freshman Connor Williams paced Southeastern in his Nationals debut, carding a 2-over-par 73 to sit in a tie for 42nd individually. He led a tightly packed Fire quartet, with just one stroke separating each of the top four scorers.
Junior Zach Shaw followed closely with a 3-over 74 (T-53rd), while sophomore Marley Read recorded a 75 (+4) to land in a tie for 63rd. Adam Crawley rounded out the Fire's scoring four with a 5-over 76.
Spencer McCranie posted a 79 in the opening round and is tied for 133rd in the 156-player field.
Nationally, No. 9-ranked Wayland Baptist leads the field after a scorching 4-under-par 280 team round. No. 3 Dalton State and No. 1 Oklahoma City round out the top three at even-par (284) and +3 (287), respectively.
On the individual leaderboard, Jack Whaley of Dalton State—NAIA's top-ranked player—delivered a dominant 10-under-par 61 to take a four-shot lead. Rodolphe Cicala of Faulkner sits second at -6 (65), with Grant Greazel (OUAZ) and Totte Uhlan (Bellevue) both tied for third at -4 (67). Nineteen players posted rounds under par on the opening day.
The Fire return to the course Thursday morning for round two, aiming to climb the leaderboard with two rounds remaining in the rain-adjusted championship format.
