ELK RIVER, MN - Of 17 competing teams, the UW-Eau Claire men's golf team finished the first day of the three-day Gustavus Adolphus Twin Cities Classic on the Elk River Country Club in fifth.

An even 300 gave Eau Claire the five spot, but they are far from out of it. It is packed at the top, with top finishers Nebraska Wesleyan University and Gustavus Adolphus hitting 296. In third behind them at 297 is St. John's University. Central College is one spot in front of Eau Claire with a 298 score. The fierce competition should make for an interesting Sunday and Monday.

The top golfer for Eau Claire was Mike Greer (Jr.-Vadnais Heights, MN/White Bear Lake). He tied for fifth while shooting 72. Grant Lissick (Sr.-Vadnais Heights, MN/White Bear Lake) ended day one two strokes behind Greer at 74 and is tied for 14th. In a tie for 27th is Derek Bauer (So.-Eagan, MN/Indian Hills CC, IA), who shot 76 for the afternoon. Peter Wendt (So.-Lake Mills) shot a 77 and tied for 36th. At 79 strokes and in a tie for 55th is Ryan Brockhaus (Jr.-Mayville). There were 108 golfers competing on 72-par course.

The Classic continues tomorrow and finishes on Monday. Sunday's action is to be played at what is called the Links at Northfork while it all ends on Monday at the Minnesota Valley Golf Course.

- PH -