BOWLING GREEN, Fla. - With tough conditions all day for the 86 golfers competing in the 2021 NCAA Division II South/Southeast Regional on the Blue Course at Streamsong Resort, No. 12 Saint Leo men's golf closed out round one tied for 11th after the first 18-holes Thursday. 

The Lions carded a team score of 299 (+11) as the teams all fought through a couple of delays as well as strong winds on the course. Francois Cilliers, Oliver Lilliedahl, and Alberto Castagnara all came in a stroke off each other after firing off rounds of 73 (+1), 74 (+2), and 75 (+3), respectively. The five players for the Green and Gold are not only battling the tough weather conditions on the course but some of the best golfers in Division II on the par-72, 7,139-yard Blue Course. 

During the opening round, Lilliedahl and Castagnara paced the team with five birdies while Cilliers was third on the team with three, Jake Nash with two, and Colin Kresl one. Lilliedahl and Castagnara both played the front nine-under-par with the Sandviken, Sweden native, Lilliedahl going through the front nine at two-under while Castagnara made the turn at one-under. 

No. 23 Nova Southeastern is the clubhouse leader after round one, as the Sharks fired off a one-over 289 to cling to a one-stroke advantage following play Thursday. The Sharks' Joseba Torres is the individual clubhouse leader after a 69 (-3) to open up regional play while four others are sitting just behind at 70 (-2). Saint Leo and Nova Southeastern's playing partner, no. 14 Georgia College is sitting tied for seventh after an opening 297 (+9) team score. 

Saint Leo Scores
T11 - Saint Leo - 299 (+11)
T17 - Francois Cilliers - 73 (+1)
T27 - Oliver Lilliedahl - 74 (+2)
T46 - Alberto Castagnara - 75 (+3)
T63 - Colin Kresl - 77 (+5)
T71 - Jake Nash - 78 (+6)

Up Next
The Lions and the other 15 teams will return to action Friday, May 7 as the Green and Gold will look to tee off at 12:05 p.m. with Nova Southeastern and Georgia College for round two. 

For more information on the Saint Leo men's golf program, visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Keeping Our Lions Healthy & Safe
Saint Leo University Athletics is keeping our student-athletes healthy and safe by following a number of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This includes having student-athletes tested or screened on a regular basis, traveling in smaller groups, limiting the number of fans in attendance, avoiding overnight trips, and wearing masks when not competing. These safety standards meet those set by the NCAA Division II and the Sunshine State Conference President's Council. At Saint Leo University, the COVID-19 Incident Command Team also reviews the teams' safety protocol and monitors adherence on a regular basis.