Lebanon, Pa. – The Stevens Institute of Technology men's golf team made a definitive opening statement Saturday in their quest for a sixth straight MAC Freedom championship, carding a nine-over 297.

The Ducks will enter the second and final day of competition with a 29-shot lead on Lebanon Valley, a 33-shot lead on Arcadia, and a 35+ shot lead on the other five teams in the field.

Jack Harris leads the field by six shots after an opening round 69 (-3). Sebastian Beaver, Ben Slicker, Noah Eide, and Arav Tank finished at +3, +4, +5, and +7, respectively, all finishing the day among the Top 10 (out of 40 total competitors).

From The Course
Harris finished with one blemish on his scorecard, a bogey at the par-four 4^th, but bounced back with an eagle at the par-five 7^th, then a birdie at the par-three 8^th. He also sandwiched a birdie at the par-five 13^th around eight pars on the back nine.

Beaver birdied the par-five 3^rd during a one-over front nine, then parred seven holes during a two-over back nine.

Slicker birdied the par-four 10^th (the only Duck to do so) and the par-five 13^th, carding one-under on the back nine.

Eide recorded back-to-back birdies at the par-four 3^rd and par-five 4^th, then birdied the 7^th, playing that five-hole stretch at three-under, part of a one-under effort on the front nine. He also added a birdie at the par-four 14^th, the only Duck to do so at the hole.

Tank was the only Duck to birdie both the par-four 4^th and 6^th, playing the front nine one-under.

In all, three Ducks played the front nine under par and two played the back nine under par.

Up Next
The Championships wrap tomorrow with the team champion receiving an automatic berth into the NCAA Championships early next month.

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