Brian Belz's course knowledge of Hot Springs Country Club has him in a good position after the first day of the Great American Conference golf championships.
Arkansas Tech junior Belz, the 2012 Lakeside graduate who helped the Rams secure three consecutive Class 5A championships, shot a 3-under 69 on the Arlington Course of Lakeside's home club, tying Southern Arkansas' George Adams for the lead after the opening round of the GAC tournament Sunday. Southern Nazarene holds the team lead at 289, two strokes better than both SAU and defending champion Henderson State.
On the women's side, Arkansas Tech fired an 18-hole GAC-record 297 on the Park Course, taking a commanding 22-stroke lead. The four scoring Golden Suns all finished within the top five after the opening day, led by Megan Jeffery of Waldron and Caroline Fredensborg each tied for first at 73.
The tournament continues today and concludes on Tuesday.
Belz, of Diamondhead, and Adams each led the field with six birdies. Half of Belz's birdies came on the Arlington's four par 3's.
Belz, the 2013 GAC champion as a freshman, helped his Wonder Boys tie for fifth with Southeastern Oklahoma State at 296. They're three strokes behind Arkansas-Monticello at 293.
Henderson, coached by former HSCC assistant professional Forrest Schultz coming into the tournament off two convincing wins at in-state tournaments, got solid efforts out of its two Lakeside grads, Drew Greenwood and Brice Howard. The duo each recorded even-par 72, Gil Debusscher leading the Reddies with a 1-under 71 and a fourth-place tie with Jason Goben and Jordan Bates of East Central (Okla.).
Price Murphee rounded out the Reddies' scoring with a 76, keeping them out of the lead but within reach. They also got an off day (79) from one of their better players this season, Mauricio Lira.
Dylan Igo shot a third-place, 2-under 70 to lead the first-place Crimson Storm. Christian Valderrama followed with 72, Luke Coppedge 73 and Michael Hearne 74, all within the top 20 of the leaderboard.
Taylor Kline helped Arkansas Tech's record-breaking women's cause with a fourth-place 75, defending champion Rebecka Surtevall rounding out the team score with 76. Harding's Brittany Marquez in third at 76 and Southwestern Oklahoma State's Ana-Laura Gomez tied with Surtevall at 76 were the non-Golden Suns among the top six.
Sports on 04/20/2015