CABOT, ARK. – Led by the 28^th place finishes of junior Jack Evans and senior Brenden Bassing, the University of Sioux Falls Men's Golf Team is 13^th after day one of the Natural State Golf Classic which opened Monday (March 1) at the Greystone Country Club. The 19 teams at the tourney will play the final round on Tuesday.

The team field is led by Arkansas Tech with an even par total of 288 on the par 72, 7,051-yard course.  Missouri State and Henderson State finished second at 11 over and 299. The Cougars, which had a combined eight birdies and 41 pars on the day, finished 33 over par and 321 as they sit just five strokes out of the top 10 – Southeast Oklahoma State at 28 over and 316.

Evans had the best-nine hold round of the day for USF with an even par 36 on the front nine. Evans finished at 78 (36-42) with a 42 on the back nine. He had a birdie on hole 10 and racked up 12 pars on the day.

Also shooting a 78 (39-39) was Bassing, who was consistent all day with two nine-hole rounds of 39.  Bassing recorded birdies on holes eight and 12 and also compiled eight par holes.

NSIC Preseason Player of the Year JJ Cooney is tied for 38th after carding a 79 (42-37). He made a significant move on the back nine as he shot a 37 or one over for the round. Cooney is at seven-over par overall after recording birdies on holes seven and 12 and registering 10 pars.

Both sophomore Gavin Metz and senior Jacob Zosel are tied for 78th after shooting an 86. Metz finished with an 86 (41-45) as he shot a five over par 41 with two birdies (holes 10 and 11) and two pars on his opening nine. Then he had two pars and was nine over on the back nine with a 45. In his 86 (41-45), Zosel was at five over and 41 through the front nine as he had five pars. Then he finished with a 45 and nine over in the final nine holes. He totaled seven pars plus a birdie on hole eight.

Playing as an individual, junior Nathan Woodall finished at 19-over par and 91 with rounds of 47 and 43. He had four pars on the day.