No. 1 Bulldogs endure wet, windy chilly Day 1
PLYMOUTH, Ind. — Tuesday's opening round of the NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship wasn't just long.
It was cold, windy and rainy, and by the time Mother Nature shut the proceedings down for the third time, No. 1 Mississippi Gulf Coast wasn't even three-quarters of the way done.
The Bulldogs were 8-over with players scattered between the 11th and 14th tees. Murray State had the low partial score when play shut down at 2-under. The Aggies had players through No. 16.
"There were a lot of unexpected weather delays," Gulf Coast coach Brad Thornton said. "It was really tough mentally on these guys, but we put together a decent start. We left a few out there at the very end of the day, but I think they'll respond well tomorrow."
Play is scheduled to resume at 7 a.m. ET Wednesday, with Round 1 finishing up on the back while the second round cranks up on the front. The Bulldogs were scheduled to be the first groups off Wednesday, but they've been pushed back and may have 20 minutes or so off after they finish 18 before they head back out on 1.
Stanley Campbell (So., London, England/Essex Golf College) is even through 13 holes. Peyton Russell (So., Gautier/Gautier) is 1-over just behind him.
Roane State's Noah Cambridge leads with a bogey-free 4-under, a remarkable round given the weather conditions.
Gulf Coast had two players yet to tee off when the first rain delay hit. That was a 70-minute stoppage because of standing water on the greens. Campbell was the first Bulldog off, and he was on the fifth tee box when another delay caused by lightning stopped play for 90 minutes.
A last rain cell moved through and shut things down for good at 8:15 p.m. ET.
"I just think we scored a little worse than we probably should have, but we're playing all right," Thornton said. "If we can hold ground in the morning and get things going into the second round, then we'll be in a really good spot."
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