WEST DUNDEE, Ill.--  Denison is tied for fourth place after the first round of the Tim Kopka Memorial hosted by Carthage from Randall Oaks Golf Club. 

The Big Red posted an opening-round team total of 300 (+16) and are tied with Carthage and Hope for fourth place.  Webster University is second at +13 while Aurora (+4) and Illinois Wesleyan (-3) sit in second and first place, respectively.

Christian Early paced Denison with a two-over-par round of 73 on Friday.  He birdied two of the three par fives on the course to highlight his round.

Ben Scherman and Connor Holleran fired rounds of 75.  Scherman was even par on the front nine and posted a 39 on the back.  Holleran went out in 38 and in with 37.  Denison's fourth score came from sophomore Marc Mitchell who posted a six-over-par 77.  Sam Davis rounded out the scoring with a 79, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5, fifth hole.

Denison will close out play at the 20-team tournament on Saturday with a 1 p.m. start.