ST. GEORGE, Utah, Feb. 8 - Southern Utah's Jeff Evans held a share of first place and SUU was all alone in the lead Monday after the first round of the Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational Golf Tournament, being played at the par 72, 6,781-yard Sunbrook Golf Club.

            Evans shot two-under par 70 to sit atop the leaderboard along with Aaron Tuttle and Taylor Reardon of Dixie State, Utah State's Tanner Highan, UMKC's Will Robson and College of Charlston's Harrison Moore.

            As a team the Thunderbirds shot two-over par 290 in the opening round to lead second place Charleston (293) by three strokes and three teams, Boise State, Utah State and UMKC (294), by four.

            Western Illinois and Oral Roberts were another two strokes back at 296, followed by Cal State Fullerton (303), IPFW (306), Butler (308) and Seattle U. (312). Dixie State's players were competing as individuals.

            Evans wasn't the only Thunderbird on the leaderboard, however, as John Lindsay and Brad Millard were tied in 10^th at one over par 73 while Doug Fowles, who was playing in his first collegiate tournament after joining the team at mid-year, shot 74 for a share of 18^th. Jordan Orth, who also joined the Thunderbird squad at mid-year, was tied for 53^rd at 78. SUU's Justin Bateman, who was also playing in his first tournament, was 70^th at 91.

            "We had a good opening round today and really were in a position to shoot a few strokes better but a couple of the guys struggled on their last few holes," SUU Coach Richard Church said. "We had three players who were competing in their first tournament for us, so it's encouraging that we could sit this high at this point.

            "Now we need to come out and finish strong tomorrow," Church added.

            The tournament's final round is scheduled to tee off Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

-- SUU --