DECATUR, ILL.— An opening round 74 has senior John Oltman (Pella) as the low score for the Central College men’s golf team after the first round of the Take Back The Night Challenge hosted by Millikin University on Friday.
           
Playing on the par-72, 7,174-yard course at Red Tail Run, the Dutch shot 304 as a team and sit in sixth place. Illinois Wesleyan University leads the 17-team field with a 287.
           
“We played a good round today,” coach Mel Blasi said. “But it could have been so much better. We made a few too many costly double bogeys and we left some shots out there with three putts and failed opportunities around the greens.”
           
Oltman had three birdies and shot an even 36 on the back nine and is tied for 15th.
           
“He was really steady all day and played a solid round,” Blasi said. “
           
Harold Dobernecker (senior, Nevada) and Cole McGriff (junior, Grinnell) both shot 75.
           
“Cole rallied late in his round to finish with a strong score,” Blasi said.
           
Junior Kayden Pendergrass (Mount Vernon) and sophomore Blake Wynn (Milan, Ill., Sherrard HS) both carded an 80.
           
“We struggled to get a fourth score today, which really hurt our team standing,” Blasi said. “We will need to play much better tomorrow in order to move up.”
           
Playing as an individual, Jacob Moffett (senior, Mount Pleasant) also shot a 74.
           
The second round continues Saturday morning at 8 a.m. from Southside Country Club in Decatur.