The Kent State Tuscarawas Golden Eagles fired an opening round team total of 326 and found themselves in ninth place of the 10-team field in the Gatorade Collegiate held at Zoar Golf Club. Baldwin Wallace led after the first round with a team total of 295, just two strokes ahead of the host team the College of Wooster.

It was the first test of the season for the young team that features three freshmen, a junior and two sophomores in the starting lineup. Second-year player Adam Matusik and freshman Dakota Wright both shot 81s to lead the Navy and Gold, while frosh Nick Reeder and veteran Kade Rainsberg added a pair of 82s to round out the scoring. Rainsberg fought off a nagging back injury during the round and like Wright, shot a team leading opening round of 39. Freshman Bailey Campbell shot an 84.

On the afternoon KSU Tusc recorded nine birdies and 23 pars, as Rainsberg and Reeder carded three birdies each which ranked them seventh overall in the field of 50 golfers. Matusik and Campbell each had two birdies, while Rainsberg also ranked in the top 20 playing the par five holes at even par.

The Golden Eagles tee off at 11 a.m. on Sunday as they look for move up in the standings on the final day of the tournament.

Freshman Dakota Wright hits a three-wood off the tee at Zoar Golf Club.