Men's Golf | 4/20/2021 7:11:00 PM

    WARREN, Ohio – All-Region junior Alex Easthom grabbed the first round lead and the West Liberty University men's golf team was in second place here Tuesday as the opening round of the Mountain East Conference Tournament concluded at Avalon Lakes Golf Course.
    Easthom, the reigning West Virginia Amateur champion and a two-time All-Region selection, birdied the 18th hole on Tuesday to stand all alone in first place at even-par 72 on a blustery day in northeast Ohio. Easthom's 72 was one shot better than Charleston's David Scragg and two strokes clear of Davis & Elkins' Jordan Hyland, who double-bogeyed the 18th hole to fall out of a tie for the lead.
    The team standings were nearly as tightly packed at the top as the medal chase.
    Davis & Elkins posted a team score of 18-over-par 306 and will carry a precarious seven-shot lead into the second round of the 54-hole event. Coach Thadd Obecny's Hilltoppers are well within striking distance at 313 with perennial challenger Charleston only one shot further back at 314. Concord (319) and Fairmont State (335) round out the top five.
    The three-day tournament is scheduled to resume tomorrow, weather permitting. Up to three inches of snow are in the forecast for tonight with temperatures in the 30s accompanied by gusty winds for most of the day on Wednesday.
       1. Davis & Elkins 306; 2. WEST LIBERTY 313; 3. Charleston 314; 4. Concord 319, 5. Fairmont State 335; 6. Notre Dame 337; 7. Wheeling 341; 8. W.Va. Wesleyan 343; 9. Glenville State 359      72: Alex Easthom (35-37)
     77: Howard Peterson IV (39-38)
     82: Caleb Moore (43-39), Bo Orecchio (43-39)
     84: Austin Lis (44-40)