So Far, So Good for Wonder Boys at NCAAs

A bogey-free round of 4-under par 68 by Putter Srinoon helped Arkansas Tech University complete the first round of the 2018 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championships in fourth place at Muscle Shoals, Ala., on Monday.

The Wonder Boys posted a team score of 4-under 284 in the opening round, putting them five strokes behind front-running University of West Florida.

A total of 20 teams qualified for the 2018 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championships. The top eight teams following 54 holes of stroke play will advance to match play on Thursday and Friday to determine the national champion.

Srinoon made birdie at his first hole on Monday, the 460-yard, par-4 10th hole at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at The Shoals Fighting Joe Course. He then recorded 11 consecutive pars before notching three straight birdies on holes 4-6.

A senior from Bangkok, Thailand, Srinoon made par on each of his final three holes to earn a share of second place in the individual standings and match his best 18-hole score of the 2017-18 season. He also posted a 68 in a season-opening event at Warrensburg, Mo., on Sept. 12.

Tech’s Shawn Tsai shot 1-under 71 on Monday and is tied for 15th place, while Austin Gean returned an even-par round of 72 and holds a share of 25th place.

Luke Cornett (35th, 73) and Kellen Gray (51st, 75) are also representing the Wonder Boys in Muscle Shoals.