Day #1 Results (.pdf) I Day #2 Tee Times I Photo Gallery

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. - The IUPUI men's golf team opened up the 2012-13 season on Saturday (Sept. 15), taking on stiff competition and one of the region's best golf courses in Wolf Run. The Jaguars opened play with a 608 (310-298), led by junior Rob van de Vin at 8-over. IUPUI sits 11th of 14 teams, 12 shots back of 10th place Miami (Ohio).

Ohio State leads the field after playing at 2-under 566 and Illinois is second at 567. Host Indiana is third at an even par 568.

"I think the afternoon was better. I'm fairly pleased. I'm not going to run around and jump up and down, but I'm fairly pleased," IUPUI head coach John Andrews said. "We're 40 shots behind a team we beat last year, but we're a different team. I like the fact that we got better as the day went on, all day long.

"We're not ahead of all the mid-majors, but I was pleased with the afternoon. I think 298 at Wolf Run is where we need to be as a team."

The Jaguars got off to a rocky start as van de Vin was the lone IUPUI player to break 40 over the first nine holes.

"I think we had 12 college tournaments total coming in as a team and we came out as a young, nervous team in the morning. I think Rob has played nine tournaments and Santi had maybe played three in the top five," Andrews said. "After the first two hours, it looked like they calmed down and played golf."

Senior Matt Bruce led the way in round one with a 5-over 76, followed up by a trio of 78's. After freshman Jordan Lenard had his 79 thrown out in the morning round, the freshman rebounded with a second round 74.

"Jordan Lenard looked more like the guy I recruited in a tournament, than he did in qualifying," Andrews said. "You can't always just rise to the occasion in tournaments, if you don't bring it."

IUPUI's other freshman, Austin Winings came out and shot back-to-back 78's on day one at Wolf Run.

"Austin Winings is very steady. Of all five of our players, I thought he looked the most comfortable, he just didn't play the best," Andrews said. "He does not look like this was too big for him. He was very nervous on the first hole and by the second hole, he looked like the guy I recruited and the guy I saw in qualifying.

"I do think the freshman class has a lot of potential, but that's all it is right now is potential."

van de Vin is tied for 47th among the 81-player field and sophomore Santiago Ruiz is tied for 53rd at 152 (78-74). After a 12 shot improvement in the afternoon, Andrews has a goal for tomorrow.

"I'd love to go under 300 again tomorrow. The pins will be tougher and the course will be tougher tomorrow. That's a pretty lofty goal," Andrews said. "The golf course was in really good shape and with it raining yesterday, it was soft and you could go at shots today.

"It's going to be an interesting year. It's going to be an interesting year in terms of finding out who our best five players are."

IU's Brant Peaper and Ohio State's Boo Timko are tied for the lead at 7-under 135. Peaper shot a first round 65 to account for the day's low score.

IUPUI will tee off beginning with Bruce at 9:38 a.m. on Sunday (Sept. 16) off No. 10. The Jaguars will be paired with Miami (Ohio) and Northern Illinois for Sunday's final round.

Team Standings
1. Ohio State - 285-281=566 (-2)
2. Illinois - 289-278=567 (-1)
3. Indiana - 284-284=568 (E)
4. Texas Tech - 291-283=574 (+6)
5. Michigan State - 288-293=581 (+13)
t-6. Kentucky - 296-290=586 (+18)
t-6. Akron - 292-294=586 (+18)
8. Wisconsin - 299-291=590 (+22)
9. Eastern Michigan - 294-297=591 (+23)
10. Miami (Ohio) - 304-292=596 (+28)
11. IUPUI - 310-298=608 (+40)
12. Northern Illinois - 306-303=609 (+41)
13. IPFW - 313-302=615 (+47)
14. Butler - 316-329=645 (+77)

Individual Standings
t-47. Rob van de Vin - 78-72=150 (+8)
t-53. Santiago Ruiz - 78-74=152 (+10)
t-59. Jordan Lenard - 79-74=153 (+11)
65. Austin Winings - 78-78=156 (+14)
t-70. Matt Bruce - 76-84=160 (+18)