LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – Ben Ortwein (Easton, PA/Notre Dame) and Rick van der Nat (Noordwijk, The Netherlands/Visser 't Hooft) each shot even-par 72 as the Rider University men's golf team shot 302 (+14) to sit eighth of nine teams after the opening round of MAAC Championships Friday at Disney's Palm Golf Course. Ortwein and van der Nat at both tied for 10^th individually following first-round action.

The rest of the lineup struggled Friday, with Louie Giovacchini (Windermere, FL/Windermere) and Joey Lostombo (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) each shooting seven-over 79's and Connor Bekefi (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) carding an 81 (+9) to round out the Broncs' lineup.

QUOTES & NOTES
"Rick and Ben played solid. Other than that, it was just really bad golf. It's pretty clear what we need to do. A low one tomorrow to give us a chance to get back in it. I can promise you that we'll be fighting for every shot." – Rider Head Coach Jason Barry

- Iona leads the team scoring at 284 (-4), a stroke ahead of Siena (285, -3).
- Fairfield's Killian McGinley and Siena's Dan Brooks lead the individual leaderboard with first-round 68's (-4).
- van der Nat had 14 pars on the round, third most in the field.
- Ortwein played the Par 5's at a team-best two under, while joining van der Nat in playing the Par 3's at even par.
- van der Nat's one over performance on the Par 4's led the way for the Broncs.

UP NEXT
The Broncs continue MAAC Championship action tomorrow morning, when they begin their round at 7:30 a.m. from Disney's Palm Golf Course in Lake Buena Vista, FL.