Round #1 Results (.pdf)

NORMAN, Okla. - The IUPUI men's golf team sits in 11th place of 14 teams competing at the NCAA Norman Regional being played at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club. The Jaguars carded a 9-over 297 and are 11 shots out of a top five position in the chase to advance to the NCAA Championships.

Florida State and Texas lead the field at 279 while Illinois is third at 284. St. Mary's (Ca.) and Washington round out the top five at 286. The top five teams and top five individuals not from those teams will advance to the NCAA Championships to be played at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. on May 29-June 3.

"I would've been very pleased with 297 in 2002, but not with this team," IUPUI head coach John Andrews said. "We made a lot of birdies, but we didn't have any consistent streaks on the course. I saw a lot of good shots, but not a whole lot of great golf.

"I'm not upset with my team. The effort was there and they worked really hard and I'm very confident in our team. They all think they can play better. We didn't come here to shoot 297."

A balanced IUPUI lineup led to Thursday's score as three Jaguars came in with 2-over 74's. Seniors Michael Davan and Ben Engle both had four bogeys and two birdies on their scorecards while sophomore Rob van de Vin rallied late to get to 74. The Netherlands-native was 4-over at the turn, but came back with three birdies on the back nine including on two of his final three holes to close at 74.

Engle was at par at the turn, but had bogeys on No. 10 and No. 14 while Davan played the back nine even.

"I talked to Colby (Huffman) on 12 and got a better mindset," Davan said. "I didn't start off the way I needed to and I think everyone felt that way.

"The good news is that we played awful today and we're still in the hunt."

Senior Michael Powell started his day with a double bogey, but was steady from there making a team-high four birdies on Thursday. Sophomore Jose Pablo Segurola capped the IUPUI quintet with a 4-over 76.

The Jaguars may have gained a measure of momentum late in the round though, playing the final three holes at 2-under as a team. Both van de Vin and Segurola capped their days with birdies on No. 18 while the three seniors all finished with at least three straight pars.

"I just hit balls better on the second nine," van de Vin said. "I told myself to quit messing around and just hit some balls like I can and hit better shots. I had a tap-in for a birdie and made another long putt for a birdie and just played the way I knew I could play.

"I think we'll come back better tomorrow. That's something we all agree on."

The Jaguars will be teamed with South Carolina and San Diego for Friday's round and have made a habit of rallying from behind to win events this season. However, this field includes nine of the nation's top 50 teams and 16 players ranked among the country's top 100.

"They have come back before," Andrews said. "I think they know how to charge much better than they play in front. We're in a familiar position and that's playing from behind."

"We've been here before," Davan said. "Now we look forward to coming back and playing the way we're capable of."

Texas' Jordan Spieth, ranked No. 1 nationally, leads the field after a 6-under 66 on Thursday. The Jaguars will begin teeing off No. 10 at 9:50 a.m. EDT, with Segurola being the first one out.

Team Standings
t-1. Florida State - 279 (-9)
t-1. Texas - 279 (-9)
3. Illinois - 284 (-4)
t-4. St. Mary's (Ca.) - 286 (-2)
t-4. Washington - 286 (-2)
6. Oklahoma - 287 (-1)
7. Arizona - 289 (+1)
8. Georgia Tech - 290 (+2)
9. Sacramento State - 292 (+4)
10. South Carolina - 294 (+6)
11. IUPUI - 297 (+9)
12. San Diego - 303 (+15)
13. Middle Tennessee State - 304 (+16)
14. Loyola (Ill.) - 307 (+19)

Individual Standings
t-35. Michael Davan - 74 (+2)
t-35. Rob van de Vin - 74 (+2)
t-35. Ben Engle - 74 (+2)
t-48. Michael Powell - 75 (+3)
t-55. Jose Pablo Segurola - 76 (+4)