Wheeling, W.Va. – The West Liberty University men's golf team is right in the mix at the top of the leaderboard of the 2024 MEC Spring Classic as they currently sit in third place with a score of 286 (+2), just three shots behind Davis & Elkins who holds the lead after day one. The Hilltoppers have four players within the top-20 of the 60 player field, including Derek Graham who sits in second place with a 67 (-4).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Derek Graham led the way for West Liberty as he notched his second round in the 60's and sixth round of even or under par this season to end the day in second place with a score of 67 (-4). He tallied a total of four birdies during the opening round and added an eagle on hole 14.
• Ethan Cook, who is playing as an individual in the tournament, collected his third round of even or under par this season as he turned in an even par total of 71 to end day one in a tie for tenth. He recorded a total of five birdies during the round.
• Bo Orecchio sits one over par with a round one score of 72 and is tied for 15^th place on the player leaderboard. During the opening round on Monday, he notched five birdies.
• Noah Seivertson shot five below his current season stroke average with a round one total of 73 (+2) and is tied for 19^th on the player leaderboard. He shot par or better on 14 of the 18 holes on day one, including a pair of birdies.
• Awethu Mkhwanazi shot a season-low round of 74 (+3) on day one of the MEC Spring Classic and is tied for 23^rd on the leaderboard. He shot three below his current season stroke average with a score of par or better on 13 of the 18 holes on the Palmer Golf Course with a trio of birdies.
• Justin Doerr rounded out the Hilltopper team lineup as he carded an opening round total of 76 (+5) for a tie for 32^nd place on the player leaderboard. He scored par or better on 12 of the 18 holes on the opening day with a pair of birdies.
• Jayson Beckner was the second WLU individual to play in this week's tournament as he carded an opening round total of 78 (+7), two shots better than his season stroke average. He tallied an eight stroke improvement on the course's back nine (35) compared to the front nine (43), as he posted eight scores of par or better which included his lone birdie of the day.

WEST LIBERTY TEAM SCORING

RANK	INDIVIDUAL	R1	R2	TOTAL
2	Derek Graham	67 (-4)		67 (-4)
T-15	Bo Orecchio	72 (+1)		72 (+1)
T-19	Noah Seivertson	73 (+2)		73 (+2)
T-23	Awethu Mkhwanazi	74 (+3)		74 (+3)
T-32	Justin Doerr	76 (+5)		76 (+5)
WEST LIBERTY INDIVIDUAL SCORING
T-10	Ethan Cook	71 (E)		71 (E)
T-42	Jayson Beckner	78 (+7)		78 (+7)

UP NEXT
West Liberty will conclude the 2024 MEC Spring Classic tomorrow as round two gets underway at 9 a.m. on the Palmer Golf Course at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia.