WARREN, Ohio – A solid first round, buoyed by a tournament-high 22 birdies, has Missouri S&T ahead of the field after the first 18 holes of play at the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships at Avalon Lakes Country Club.

The Miners shot a four-under-par 284 in the first round Monday to hold a two-shot advantage over Grand Valley State and Oklahoma Christian, with one of its playing partners, Barry, sitting three shots in back.  Missouri S&T was helped by the 22 birdies it posted during the day as well as two eagles, both of which came on par-five holes where the Miners averaged 4.60 shots per hole in round one.

Gustav Liljedahl (Uppsala, Sweden/Celsiusskolan) fired a five-under-par 67 Monday and is in a three-way tie for second place with Texas A&M International's Mauricio Figueroa and Palm Beach Atlantic's Andrew Riley; both players are one shot behind Harding's Sam Tandy, who finished with a 66.  Carl Miltun (Gilbert, AZ/Williams Field), meanwhile, is one shot in back of the trio at five-under as he posted an opening round 68 to sit alone in fifth place.

Liljedahl had six birdies and an eagle, recording the eagle on the par-five sixth hole – the only eagle on that hole in the first round by any player.  He had four of his birdies on the back nine after going three-under over the first nine holes.

Miltun was at one-over through eight holes, then had a string of six birdies in a span of seven holes to bring his score to as low as five-under.  He finished the day with seven birdies to lead all players in the field, while Liljedahl's six matched the second-most on the first day.

Cole Komyati (Fairhope, AL/Bayside Academy), who had the Miners' other eagle on Monday, ended the day with a two-over-par 74.  Komyati's eagle came on the par-five third hole as he also sprinkled in three birdies during the afternoon.  Meanwhile, Jeppe Thybo (Esbjerg, Denmark/Rybners Gymnasium) had a strong front nine with four birdies before finished with a three-over 75 and Isaac To ended the day with a 78.

Round two will take place Tuesday with the Miners – who will still be paired with Barry and Sonoma State – beginning play at 8:25 a.m., Eastern time.