The Tyler Junior College Apaches opened the NJCAA Division II Golf Championship with a disappointing 299 Tuesday at Palm Valley Golf Club outside Phoenix, Ariz.

TJC head coach Sandy Terry called it a "poor day" for the Apaches as a team. Their five players combined to shoot 20 over par on four holes (6, 7, 8 and 18). They also recorded a triple bogey.

 

"They are difficult holes and you have to hit the ball in a certain spot to have a chance to make a good score, and we did not do that," said Terry, whose team enters today's round in sixth place.

Nate Anderson, a freshman from Duluth, Minn., led the Apaches with a 1-under 71 (36-35) -- the fifth-best score of the day. Anderson played steady with two birdies and one bogey.

"It was a great day for Nate," Terry said. "It's pretty exciting to open up the national tournament under par."

Terry said the four closing holes on the front nine are the most difficult on the course other than 18.

The coach said the Apaches did not have a target score in mind.

"We don't set numbers ahead of time," Terry said. "We try to go out and hopefully play it like Nate did, play what the golf course gives you."

TJC's two sophomore leaders -- James Glenn and Stefan Labuschagne -- shot 74 and 77, respectively. Labuschagne (37-40) had four birdies and Glenn (39-35) three. They were named Ping All-Americans at Monday's banquet, along with Anderson.

The Apaches also counted a 77 (39-38) from Chris George, a freshman from Australia. They tossed out an 81 (41-40) from Sebastian Starud, who averages 75.21 and is a Ping all-region honoree.

Darton (Ga.) and South Mountain (Ariz.) shared the first-round lead at 1-over 289. Another Arizona school, Mesa, was third at 291. Mississippi Gulf Coast and Seminole (Okla.) were tied for fourth at 297.

NJCAA Women's Championship

The TJC Apache Ladies are in seventh place with a 345 after the opening round of the women's national tournament at LPGA International Golf Club in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Jacki Marshall, a freshman from Australia, fired a 76 (40-36) for the sixth-best score of day. Rounding out TJC's scoring are Alexis Byerly (43-46 -- 89), Whitney Flewellen (46-43 -- 89), Adela Elizondo (44-47 -- 91) and Courtney Hodgkins (49-45 -- 94).

Tournament host Daytona State jumped to a 14-stroke advantage with a 298. Rounding out the top 10 are McLennan (312), Redlands, Okla. (320), Western Texas (323), Texarkana (326), Rend Lake, Ill. (340), Seminole State, Fla. (346), John A. Logan, Ill. (349) and Mesa, Ariz. (357).

-- Joe Buie