LEMONT, ILL. - The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's golf team shot an opening round score of 295 on day one of competition at the NCAA Midwest/Central Regional to sit in fifth place in the 20-team field.
 
Southeastern Oklahoma State fired a 288 for first place, while Central Missouri is second with a 291. Southwestern Oklahoma State and Indianapolis finished just three strokes better than the Tritons and are in a tie for third place, while UMSL owns a one stroke lead over Central Oklahoma with 36 holes still to be played in the three-day event.
 
The Tritons will fight to remain in the top five as those teams will advance to the NCAA Championships May 18-22 at Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Conover, N.C., hosted by Lenoir-Rhyne University. The top two players not with a team (regardless of region), will also advance.
 
Sophomore Matt Barry turned in a team-best two-under par 70 behind four birdies and sits in a tie for fifth place. Sophomore Julien de Poyen followed with a 72 and is tied for 13^th place, while UMSL's other scores include junior Anthony Cope (76), freshman Markus Lindberg (77) and junior Colby Yates (82).
 
Central Missouri's Travis May and Bellarmine's DJ Vogt each finished five under with a 67 to lead all individuals.
 
Second round action continues tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. The Tritons will begin teeing off at Noon.