BOULDER CREEK, Nev. – Paddy Blinderman, Oscar Blomqvist, Cooper Groshart and Peyton Hendricks each started play Monday afternoon at the NCAA Division II Men's Golf National Championship on a positive note with birdies on the par-5 582-yard second hole at Boulder Creek Golf Club — Desert Hawk Coyote Run in Boulder Creek, Nevada.
 
For Groshart and Hendricks, that was the first of three birdies that took place for each throughout the front nine with the former shooting 2-under, entering No. 10, and the latter approaching that hole at 1-over.  
 
Blinderman also entered the turn at 1-over with his teammates with an eagle on No. 5, a 533-yard par-5, providing another early highlight for Cal State East Bay.
 
Blomqvist and Easton Hether opened the back nine at 4-over and 6-over, respectively.
 
Hendricks and Hether began their next set of holes with matching 3s on the par-4 419-yard 10th; another pair of Pioneers, Blomqvist and Groshart, posted birdies shortly thereafter on the par-5 13th hole (579 yards).
 
Blinderman enjoyed a consistent performance throughout the back-half of the course by shooting par on each hole to finish with a 1-over 73 for the round. Also finishing the back nine at even par was Groshart, who wrapped-up the day at 2-under, and Blomqvist, who will start Tuesday's second round at 4-over.
 
As was the case earlier in the round by Blinderman, Hendricks recorded eagle on No. 16, the longest hole on the course at 635 yards. By recording a 3, at the end of his day, the senior was the last of four Pioneers to shoot par after the turn and ended his day at 1-over.
Thanks to a birdie on No. 16, Hether finished his day 1-under on the back nine and entered the clubhouse at 5-over (77).
 
As a team, Cal State East Bay shot 4-over and sit alongside Western Washington tied for 13th. Groshart leads all Pioneers tied for 19th, Blinderman and Hendricks are tied for 48th after 18 holes, Blomqvist is tied for 85th and Hether is 93rd

The NCAA Division II Championship feature one of the deepest fields in Division II golf, with teams competing in 54 holes of stroke play across three 18-hole rounds. Following stroke play, the top teams will advance to medal/match play competition to determine the national champion with individuals also battling for a national crown.

The Pioneers advanced to the Championship for the third time in program history and second time in as many seasons; the other appearance took place in 2017. East Bay finished 14th overall last year while Hether led all Pioneers by finishing 11th.


NCAA Division II Men's Golf National Championship
Boulder Creek Golf Club — Desert Hawk Coyote Run
Boulder Creek, Nevada
Par 72 | 7,959 yards
 
Team Standings
T1. West Texas A&M 278
T1. Missouri-St. Louis 278
T3. Florida Southern 280
T3. Lee 280
T5. Georgia Southwestern 283
T5. Colorado Christian 283
7. West Florida 285
8. Central Missouri 287
9. Columbus State 288
T10. Nova Southeastern 289
T10. Grand Valley State 289
12. Wingate 290
T13. Cal State East Bay 292
T13. Western Washington 292
T15. Washburn 293
T15. Cal State San Marcos 293
T15. Cal State San Bernardino 293
18. Gannon 295
19. Wheeling
20. Charleston (WV) 313
 
Individual Results (leader plus Cal State East Bay only)
T1. David Vega Gerstel (West Texas A&M) 66
T1. Luis Palomo (West Texas A&M) 66
T1. George Cordall (Lee) 66
T19. Cooper Groshart 70
T48. Paddy Blinderman
T48. Peyton Hendricks 73
T85. Oscar Blomqvist 76
93. Easton Hether 77