CCIW Men’s Golf Championship Update: IWU Opens Big Lead After Round One

In Thursday’s opening round of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) men’s golf championship, Illinois Wesleyan, the pre-championship favorite, set the pace for the rest of the field. The team shot eight-under par, taking an eight-stroke lead after 18 holes at WeaverRidge Golf Club in Peoria, Illinois.

Griffin Pohl of IWU shot a five-under-par 67 to record the day’s best round. Pohl, who will start round two at 10:50 a.m. on Friday, leads the four golfers in second place by two strokes: Jonah Swartz of Wheaton, Quinn Clifford of IWU, Virgile Gruny of Millikin, and Alexander Remahl of North Park. Four of Pohl’s six birdies on Thursday came on the back nine.

The Titans, who faced wet fields and sporadic rain on Thursday, had three players in the top six through 18 holes. Clifford is tied for second place, and Juney Bai, who shot a one-under-par 71, is tied with Carthage’s Tanner Angelstad for sixth place.

On Thursday, Millikin’s team score was even par, putting the Big Blue nine strokes ahead of third-place Wheaton and eight shots behind Illinois Wesleyan. Mateo Oneglia tied for 10th place with a 73, while Millikin’s Luke Bradley finished eighth with an even-par 72.

At 8:30 a.m. on Friday, the 54-hole championship’s middle round gets underway at WeaverRidge. The first wave of players will include Carthage, Carroll, and Elmhurst. At 9:20 a.m., North Central, Augustana, and North Park will begin their wave. At 10:10 a.m., IWU, Millikin, and Wheaton will form their last group.