WINONA, Minn. – Playing in its first NCAA Tournament event since 1969, Missouri S&T's golf team opened play Thursday at the NCAA Central/Midwest Regional Tournament by shooting 10-over-par and ending the day in a tie for 10^th place in the team standings.

The Miners shot a 294 over the first 18 holes of play and will enter the second round tied with Wayne State (MIch.) for the 10^th spot.  S&T was as high as third at one point late in the afternoon, but some struggles late in the round led to its drop in the standings.

Carl Miltun (Gilbert, AZ/Williams Field) finished day one in a tie for seventh as the lone Miner to finish under par, as he recorded an opening round 70 to finish a shot under par for the day. Miltun recorded three birdies and two bogeys during his first round of play as he is tied with seven others for seventh on a day where 14 players shot under par at The Bridges Golf Course.

Gustav Liljedahl (Uppsala, Sweden/Celsiusskolan) finished with a 74 as he was at even par through the first 14 holes, but had three bogeys in the final four holes of the afternoon.  Jeppe Thybo (Esbjerg, Denmark/Rybners Gymnasium) and Issac To both finished with a 75; Thybo opened the day with back-to-back bogeys, but settled in after the slow start.

To had pars on all nine holes on the front nine, but like Liljedahl, had three bogeys late in the round as well to drop to four over.  S&T's fifth player, Cole Komyati (Fairhope, AL/Bayside Academy), finished the day with a 77.

Grand Valley State, who has three of the four players at the top of the individual standings, leads the tournament through the first round after posting an eight-under-par score of 276.  GVSU's Charles Delong and Drew Coble each finished the day with a 65 to share the lead and Nick Krueger finished with a 68 to sit in a tie for third.

Missouri S&T will begin play in round two Friday at 8:20 a.m., as it will again be paired with Missouri-St. Louis and Harding.