Kimmel, Bronchos In The Lead

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (Oct. 11) – Rain forced a long delay in the start of the Missouri Western Holiday Inn Express Invitational that kicked off here Monday, but Central Oklahoma went on a birdie binge when play finally got underway.

The Bronchos racked up 24 birdies on the 6,564-yard, par-71 St. Joseph Country Club in finishing with a four-under 280 total to seize an eight-stroke lead over Winona State. Washburn is third in the 16-team field at 291.

Thirty-six holes were on tap Monday, but heavy rains resulted in a four-hour delay and teams were able to finish just 18 holes. The final round is set for an 8:30 a.m. start Tuesday.

Caleb Kimmel led UCO's charge with a three-under 68 that has him in the individual lead by one shot. Bennett Baldwin and Kyle Hickey are tied for fifth after both opened with one-under 70s, while Evan Griffith shot 72 and Liam Coughlin 73.

"I was really proud of the way we stayed focused after such a long delay," head coach Derrick Thompson said. "We made a ton of birdies and really played well. The guys are feeling good and we're excited about tomorrow."

Kimmel bogeyed his first hole on the par-3 seventh, but responded with birdies on the par-5 eighth and par-5 10th to get to one-under. He dropped back to even with a bogey on No. 12, then really got going.

The junior birdied the par-4 15th to get to one-under, made consecutive birdies on the par-5 17th and 18th holes and added another on the par-4 second to get to minus-four. Kimmel bogeyed No. 4, then finished with two pars for the 68.

Bennett also started his round on No. 7 and opened with a double bogey. He was still two-over after six holes before making three birdies in a four-hole stretch against one bogey to get to even.

The freshman dropped back to two-over with another double bogey on No. 1, but reeled off three straight birdies to get to one-under and finished with a pair of pars to stay there.

Hickey started on No. 8 and bogeyed his second hole of the day, then birdied a pair of par-3s in dropping to one-under. He got to three-under with consecutive birdies on the par-4 first and second holes.

The junior dropped back to one-under with two bogeys, got one of those strokes back on the par-4 sixth hole and then bogeyed his final hole of the day for the 71.

Griffith also opened the day on No. 7 and was two-over after six holes. Back-to-back birdies on Nos. 15 and 16 got the junior back to even and he offset an 18th-hole bogey with a birdie on the par-4 second to stay there before bogeying his last hole for a 72.

Coughlin overcame a terrible start that saw him open with a bogey and triple bogey. The freshman was five-over after six holes, but was three-under over his final 12 holes in rallying for a 73.

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Players Mentioned

Evan Griffith: Sophomore

Caleb Kimmel: Sophomore

Bennett Baldwin: 6' 1"; Freshman

Liam Coughlin: Freshman

Kyle Hickey: 5' 9"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Evan Griffith
: Sophomore

Caleb Kimmel
: Sophomore

Bennett Baldwin
: 6' 1"; Freshman

Liam Coughlin
: Freshman

Kyle Hickey
: 5' 9"; Junior