KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Ben Heller's solid day led The University of South Dakota men's golf team during the opening day of competition at the Bill Ross Intercollegiate at the Blue Hills Golf Club in Kansas City, Mo.

USD is 12th overall with a 36-hole total of 643. The Coyotes are 23 shots out of 10th place. Central Arkansas has the lead at 582, with Wichita State's Dustin Garza leading overall at 140.

Heller (Fr., Aberdeen, S.D.) finished the opening 36 holes at 153, which is tied for 27th out of more than 70 golfers. Heller shot rounds of 79 and 74.

Kyle Scanlon (Jr., Stillwater, Minn.) added a 159 (80-79) and is tied for 55th for the Coyotes. Jim Walsh (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) is at 161 (79-82), while Marc Gubbels (Fr., Yankton, S.D.) is at 175 (92-83). John Vining (So., Sioux Falls, S.D.) carded a 179 (87-92) for the final Coyote score.

The final round will tee off at 9 a.m. Tuesday.