Complete Results

     OLATHE, Kan. - The Texas Wesleyan golf team is in sixth place after the first round of the NAIA National Golf Championship Tuesday afternoon at the Prairie Highlands Golf Course.

     Texas Wesleyan (296), who was one of the last groups to tee off, finished the day eight over-par. They are only three shots back of Oklahoma Christian (293), but are 15 shots behind first-round leader Johnson and Wales (Fla.) who shot 281 (seven under-par). Johnson and Wales had four individuals shoot par or better.

     "We still haven't had a tournament where everyone on the team is on the same page," Texas Wesleyan head coach Kevin Millikan said. "In order to compete at this level we need to have four good scores. There are still three rounds left, but we have a huge hole to dig out of."

     Senior Justin Ward fired an even-par 72. After shooting a 39 (three over-par) on the front-nine, the Fort Worth, Texas native tallied three birdies on the back-nine to score a 33 and bring his daily total to 72 and tie him for 12th place.

     Junior Reino Deetlefs also shot an even-par 72 in the first round. The Randburg, South Africa native also had a good back-nine, rolling in two birdie putts, to tie him with Ward for the team lead.

     Sophomore Scott Sikes turned in a solid round, shooting a one over-par 73. The Irving, Texas native followed suit and capitalized on an excellent back-nine. He also had two birdies in the final nine holes. Sikes is currently tied for 20th after day one.

     Sophomores Justin Smith (79) is tied for 94th and Dan Hahn (80) is tied for 103rd.

     "Our top three grinded out some good scores today," Millikan said. "The conditions were all you could have asked for today. Hopefully the weather will cooperate the rest of the tournament."

     The Rams will be back in action Wednesday for the second round of the 2005 NAIA National Golf Championship.