Valparaiso opened the 2011-2012 men’s golf season on Saturday afternoon at Forest Akers Golf Course in East Lansing, Mich. and currently sits in ninth place with a 36-hole total of 604 following day one play.

The Crusaders posted the fourth best round in the afternoon at 297 after turning in a score of 307 in the morning, and moved up one position over the second 18 holes.  Valpo currently is just one stroke behind Evansville and Youngstown State for seventh place heading into Sunday’s final round.  Michigan State holds a three shot advantage over IUPUI after carding 586 (293-293) through 36 holes.

“I’m proud of the team and their play today, competing over 36 holes with temperatures close to 90 degrees,” head coach Dave Gring said.  “I was very pleased with how they closed the last nine holes in the afternoon round, with all five guys playing almost even par as a group.  They kept their concentration and that allowed us to have the fourth best team score in the afternoon.”

Kyle Henning (Brookfield, Wis./East H.S.) turned in Valpo’s two most consistent rounds, a 75 and a 74 to sit at 149 overall and is tied for 21^st place to lead the way for the Brown and Gold.  He is just two shots out of the top-10 heading into Sunday.

“Kyle was very steady today,” Gring stated.

Andy Webb (Bedford, Ind./North Lawrence H.S.) added rounds of 78 and 75 to post a two round total of 153, one shot ahead of Thomas Wettstein (Neenah, Wis./Xavier H.S.).  Wettstein bounced back from an opening round 82 to card Valpo’s lowest score of the day, an even par round of 72 in round two.

“Thomas came back very strong in the afternoon with his even par round of 72, which was the sixth best score of the round,” Gring added.

Brad Winters (Elgin, Ill./Saint Edward H.S.) added rounds of 79 and 76 and sits at 155 while his brother, Eric Winters (Elgin, Saint Edward H.S.) carded scores of 82 and 74.  Joe Harris (Washington, Iowa/Washington H.S.) opened his freshman campaign with a 75 and is at 161 total through 36 holes

“In their first collegiate tournament the two freshmen, Joe and Eric, played quite well,” Gring concluded.  “Joe led our team with a solid 75 in the morning.  Even though Eric is playing as our sixth man with his scores not counting towards the team total, he posted a 74 in the afternoon.”

Individually, Cameron Scitern of Tennessee State leads the way by one shot at two-under par 142 (72-70).

Valparaiso will return to the links on Sunday morning for the final 18 holes of play with the shotgun start commencing at 8 a.m. CDT.