REDDING, Calif. – Tyler Vassar led a stellar opening day for the Oregon Tech men's golf team with a 1-under-par 71, helping the Hustlin' Owls to the team lead after 18 holes at the Simpson Spring Invite.
 
Competing on the par-72 course at Riverview Golf & Country Club, each of the four OIT scorers shot 1-over-par or better – with the Owls team score of 289 five strokes clear of Southern Oregon (294). Host Simpson is third (297), followed by Jessup (298), College of Idaho (303) and Bushnell (304).
 
Vassar recorded seven birdies – including four on his inward nine – sitting three strokes behind Day 1 leader, Rasmus Tamker of Grays Harbor CC. Both Kade Bracken and Xavier De La Rosa shot even-par 72s, with Hunter Eberhardt ending the first 18 with a 1-over-par 73.
 
Three others had solid first rounds for Tech – as Issey Tanimura shot a 2-over-par 74, Tyce Helmick shot 77 and Kellen Humphries finished Day 1 with an 80.
 
Tomorrow's final round is set for a 9 a.m. shotgun start.