PATTERSON, Calif. ? Battling tough weather conditions and winds up to 40 m.p.h., the Austin Peay men's golf team currently sits in third place out of 11 teams, at the Diablo Grande Intercollegiate, being played at the Ranch Golf Course.

The Govs shot an opening-round 320, 10 shots off the pace set by Loyola-Chicago, which fired an opening-round 310. Cal State Stanislaus, currently sits in second place after shooting a first-round 317 team total, with North Dakota (326) and Jackson State (328) sitting in fourth and fifth, respectively.

“In my 11 years of coaching in collegiate golf I have never seen tougher conditions to play in,” said head coach Kirk Kayden. “From the first tee you could tell the airstream was going to be a factor all day. This golf course sits down in a valley and with a cold front coming through at the time we teed off, it made the wind atrocious to try and hit a golf ball straight.”

Despite the circumstances Austin Peay found success on the day with a trio of Govs being in the top-10. Leading the way was senior Grant Leaver, who fired an opening-round three-over-par 75, and currently sits in third place. Joining Leaver in the top-10 are sophomore Erik Barnes, with a 78 (sixth) and freshman Brian Balthrop, one shot behind Barnes in ninth, after firing a 79. Senior Luke Ladd shot a opening-round 86, and currently sits in 49th, while Matt Coles, who shot an 11 on the first hole, rebounded to fire an opening-round 91, and is in 61st.

“I was so proud of our team today,” said Kayden. “Matt had some bad luck on the first hole. With the tee box up on a hill and a strong cross wind running thru the middle of the fairway, he hit the ball out of bounds twice. That being said I thought he along with all our team did a great job on keeping their composure and finishing the round strong. I look for both the conditions and our scores to get better tomorrow.”

Darkness suspended play in the second round, the Govs will continue the three-day, 54-hole event, with the end of the second round and the start of round three, Tuesday, on the par-72, 6,999-yard course.