The Valparaiso University men’s golf team sits in fourth place after the opening day of the Horizon League Championship from Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. on Friday, just one shot out of third position and within striking distance of the top teams.

No Crusader posted a super-low score on Friday over the opening 18 holes, but Valpo had the best balance out of the seven league squads, as no Crusader shot worse than a 79. The Crusaders closed the day with a team score of 306, just one stroke behind Wright State’s 305. Cleveland State carries the team lead into Saturday’s action with an opening-round 293.

Fresh off of earning All-League honors Thursday night, sophomore Nick Seitz (Xenia, Ohio/Carroll) led the Crusaders on Friday. Seitz parred each of the first 10 holes and ended the opening round with a tournament-best 14 pars as part of a round of 74 (+2), good for a tie for ninth position entering Saturday’s second round.

A pair of Crusaders finished the day in a tie for 13^th place after posting matching 77s to open tournament play. Sophomore Peter Webb (Madison, Wis./James Madison Memorial), also an All-League selection this season birdied three of the course’s par-5s en route to his 77, while senior Joe Harris (Washington, Iowa/Washington) tallied three birdies in his round of 77.

Senior Eric Winters (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) tallied five birdies on Friday, tied for second-most in the tournament field, and finished his round at 78, good for a tie for 19^th place. Redshirt junior Jared Magoline (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac [Marquette]) rounded out the Valpo lineup with a round of 79 to finish the opening day tied for 22^nd place.

Valpo returns to the links Saturday morning for the second round of the three-round tournament. Magoline will be the first Crusader to tee off, opening his round at 6:40 a.m. CT, while the rest of the Crusaders will tee off in the following hour. Live stats will be available at ValpoAthletics.com.