WARREN, Ohio – The first day of the NCAA Championships didn't turn out the way Chico State would have wanted it to. The Wildcats combined a 19-over 307 to end Monday's opener in 18^th place with at least two more rounds to play.
 
Despite the score, Chico State is only 14 strokes behind eighth-place Georgia Southwestern, which currently holds the final transfer spot to the match-medal play. The 'Cats will return to the 7.287-yard, par-72 Avalon Lakes Tuesday with tee time set for 7:15 a.m. PDT.

 

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It is a familiar spot to Chico State as the Wildcats were 10 strokes back after the first day of the NCAA Super Regionals. The 'Cats rallied in the next two rounds to earn the invitation to the tournament they are currently playing.
 
Naoki Easterday got off to a solid start to the tournament, scoring par in the first seven holes. He double bogey the eighth hole but made up for it with a birdie on a par four on the very next hole. He finished the back-9 with two birdies and three pars to tally a 3-over 75.
 
Giuliano Kaminski carded a 4-over 76, highlighted with three birdies and nine pars. Dakota Ochoa was near perfect in the front-9 but ran into trouble in the back side of the course, scoring a 5-over 77 in the end. Tyler Ashman penciled in a 79 and Giacomo Sorrentino rounded out the 'Cats with an 82.
 
Missouri S&T currently leads the 20-team tournament with a 4-under 284. Harding University's San Tandy leads the individual field of 108 players with a 6-under 66.