Jackets in Ninth After First Round of DC Spring Invitational

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Despite the wet playing conditions on Friday, the opening round of the Defiance College Spring Invitational was completed and the Yellow Jackets ended the first 18 holes in ninth place in the 10-team event.

Jace Neal shot an 83, while Matt Gehring carded an 84 to lead the Yellow Jackets with a pair of top 30 scores. Jared James fired an 87 and will enter Saturday's final round in a tie for 37th, Brian Jones finished at 88 to tie for 41st and Greg Vogt's 92 put him in 49th on the individual leaderboard.

Heidelberg will take a nine-shot lead into Saturday's action after shooting a 303 to pace the field. Ohio Northern (312), Trine (320), Franklin (320) and Mount St. Joseph's 'B' squad (321) finish out the top five after one round. The next five in the team standings are the MSJ 'A' squad (325), Ohio Northern 'B' team (330), Rochester (332), Defiance (342) and Tiffin (348).

Heidelberg's Zack Koinis will have a five-stroke advantage on the field at the start of Saturday's round after carding a 69. Koinis' teammate, Kevin Lenhart, and ONU's Ben Kretz finished the opening 18 in a tie for second with a 74.

The final round of the 2009 Defiance College Spring Invitational will begin at Kettenring Country Club at 10:00 am on Saturday.