The Valparaiso University men’s golf team played the first round of the National Golf Invitational (NGI) on Friday at the par-72, 7323-yard Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz. Anthony Delisanti (Sanborn, N.Y. / Niagara Wheatfield) paced the team and is part of the top 15 through one round.

How It Happened

• Delisanti carded a 71 (-1) in the opening round, tied for 15^th of 47 on the player leaderboard.
• Senior Mason Bonn (Sherwood, Ore. / Sherwood) posted a 74 (+2) to finish the day tied for 28^th, while sophomore Owen Sander (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) and freshman Adam Melliere (Zionsville, Ind. / Zionsville) both used 76 strokes (+4).
• The Beacons finished the day at 297 (+9), one stroke ahead of Missouri Valley Conference foe Belmont for eighth in the 10-team field.
• TCU holds the team lead at 279 (-9), while TCU’s Jack Beauchamp and Washington State’s Preston Bebich are tied for first at 67 (-5).

Inside the Rounds

• Valpo produced only 11 birdies in the opening round, but did hit par on 56 holes.
• Bonn and Delisanti led the team with three birdies apiece.
• Delisanti birdied back-to-back holes, the par-4 15^th hole and the par-5 16^th hole. He also birdied the par-5 third hole but did sprinkle two bogeys into the round.

Up Next

The second round of this weekend’s tournament will take place on Saturday. A link to live scoring via GolfStat is available on ValpoAthletics.com.