Oklahoma State has a seven-shot lead over Oklahoma after the first round of play at the Stillwater Regional.
STILLWATER, Okla. -- Oklahoma State fired an opening 285 at the NCAA Stillwater Regional on Monday to take a seven-shot lead at Karsten Creek.
With their 3-under tally, the top-seeded Cowboys were the lone team to break par on the day at the par-72, 7,418-yard layout. Oklahoma came in with a 292 total to stand alone in second place, while Louisville and Northwestern each posted 300 totals to share third.
Coming off his victory at the Big 12 Championship in his last outing, Stratton Nolen recorded a bogey-free 68 to hold the top spot on the individual leaderboard. The sophomore carded four consecutive pars to start his day before posting his first birdie at the par-4 fifth hole. After posting three more pars, he birdied the ninth to turn at 2-under 34.
Nolen's inward nine began with four consecutive pars before he carded his first birdie of the back nine at the 14th. He followed with his final birdie of the day at the 17th to get to his 4-under total.
Kristoffer Ventura joined Nolen in red figures, carding a 1-under 71 to stand in fifth place. The sophomore went out in 1-under 35 with a birdie at the seventh. After carding bogeys at the 10th and 11th to start his inward nine, Ventura posted birdies at Nos. 17 and 18 to move back under par.
Sophomore Sam Stevens also wrapped up the day in the top 10, finishing tied for seventh after posting an even-par 72.
Senior Jordan Niebrugge signed for a 2-over 74 to stand in a tie for 16th place, while sophomore Brendon Jelley came in tied for 24th place after posting a 76.
