Seniors Lead Ducks at NCAA Regional

BATH, Mich. – Seniors Owen Avrit and Nate Stember led No. 22 Oregon in the first round of the NCAA Bath Regional Monday at Eagle Eye Golf Club.

Avrit shot a 5-under 66, while Stember added a 3-under 68 as the Ducks were tied for fifth place at 5-under 279.

Georgia had the first day lead following a blistering 18-under 266. Michigan State and No. 3 Illinois were tied for second at 12-under with No. 15 Texas was fourth at 9-under.

The Ducks were tied for fifth with Arkansas-Little Rock. No. 10 Florida was a stroke behind the Ducks at 4-under with Kansas State at 3-under.

The top five teams from the three-round Bath Regional will advance to the NCAA Championships May 26-31 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Nate Stember

How It Happened: Avrit's ninth round of the season in the 60s included five birdies and an eagle. His day got off to a rocky start with a double bogey on his second hole, No. 11, before he eagled the par-5 14^th hole to get back to level par.

He then birdied No. 16 and No. 18 to close out his front nine and began his back nine with a birdie on No. 1 to get to 3-under. Avrit added birdies on No. 4 and No. 6 to get to 5-under before closing out his round with three straight pars.

Avrit was tied for second place, one stroke back of the leader Ben Van Wyk of Georgia at 6-under 65.

Stember was tied for 12^th after making birdies on both of the par-5 holes on his front nine, No. 14 and No. 18, and added birdies on No. 3 and No. 7. His only blemish was a bogey on No. 11.

Greg Solhaug had a 1-under 70 with four birdies, including one on his final hole, No. 9, and three bogeys. He was tied for 30^th.

Greyson Leach and Aiden Krafft both shot 4-over 75s for the Ducks.

Quotable
Head Coach Casey Martin
"Nate and Owen carried us. Aiden and Greyson had a tough day, but they will do better tomorrow. We just need to relax and play our game. We can't press. Regionals puts you to the test and you have to be mature and keep your focus."

Notable: Avrit leads the field in par-5 scoring at 4-under … Oregon has counted all 31 of Avrit's rounds this season … It was Stember's ninth round in the 60s this year … Avrit's five birdies give him 299 in his Oregon career.

Ducks On The Leaderboard
First Round
Eagle Eye Golf Club (Par 71, 7,090 Yards)
T5. Oregon – 279 (-5)
T2. Owen Avrit – 66 (-5)
T12. Nate Stember – 68 (-3)
T30. Greg Solhaug – 70 (-1)
T66. Greyson Leach – 75 (+4)
T66. Aiden Krafft – 75 (+4)

Up Next: The second round of the NCAA Bath Regional gets underway at 5 a.m. Pacific time on Tuesday.