PALM SPRINGS, Fla. – The South Dakota Coyote men's program completed day one of the Southern Invitational on Monday. The Yotes sit in 11^th place after two rounds of action with a score of 608.
 
Tournament: Southern Invitational
Location: Palm Springs, Florida
USD Place: 11^th place (608)
Top Yote: Tate Arends T27 (148)
 
The short story: The Yotes teed off their spring season in Florida. After one round the Yotes shot 309, but improved in the second round cutting off 10 strokes to card a 299 in round two.
 
TEE OFF

• Arends struggled in the first round, but was able to turn the tide in the second round carding a 71 to sit tied for 27^th after day one. Arends recorded two birdies in the first round, but the highlight of the day was carding a birdie and then an eagle on back-to-back holes to get to even par. Arends finished one under-par in round two.
• After struggling in the front nine, junior Ben Hicks carded a one under-par back nine to finish the first round at five over-par. In round two Hicks continue to connect well on his shots and putts recording five birdies for a score of 73. Heading into round two Hicks sits tied for 38^th.
• Senior Matt Tolan recorded two birdies on day one of competition, recording scores of 79 and 76. However, Tolan was able to record balance out that with a good amount of pars in both rounds on Monday. He cut three strokes of his score from round one to round two and sits in 53^rd place.
• Ian Johnston heads into Tuesday in 58^th place after carding scores of 76 and 81 on the first day. Johnston recorded back-to-back birdies in the first five holes but followed it up with seven bogeys in the next 10 holes. Johnston finished round one with two pars and a birdie.
• Ryan Neff made his Coyote debut and sits tied for 61^st after the first day of competition. He recorded scores of 80 and 79. After recording five bogeys and one double bogey in the front nine of round two, Neff recorded pars in all but one hole on the back nine.
• Freshman Ben Daane also competed in his first tournament as a Yote, however as an individual. Going into day two he is tied for 63^rd place after shooting scores of 81 and 79.

Coyote Scores

Place	Team	RD 1	RD 2	Total
11	South Dakota	309	299	608
T27	Tate Arends (2)	77	71	148
T38	Ben Hicks (3)	77	73	150
53	Matt Tolan (1)	79	76	155
58	Ian Johnston (4)	76	81	157
T61	Ryan Neff (5)	80	79	159

INDIVIDUAL

Place	Golfer	RD 1	RD 2	Total
T63	Ben Daane (South Dakota)	81	79	160

 
INSIDE THE SCORECARD

• The Yotes carded 26 birdies and one eagle on the day. 15 in the first round and 11 in the second round.
• South Dakota cut 10 strokes off its round one score to record a score under 300. The first time this season, the Yotes have recorded a round under 300.

UP NEXT
South Dakota will compete in the final 18 holes tomorrow. Tee time for Johnston, Neff and Daane is set for 8:24 a.m. while Arends, Hicks and Tolan will tee off at 8:33 a.m.