Alva Review-Courier -

MUSKOGEE, Okla. — The round's only individual under-par performance by Peerada Piddon has Arkansas Tech in first place after the first round of the NCAA Central Region Championships at the Muskogee Country Club. The Golden Suns carded a total of 299 (+15) and lead host Northeastern State by three strokes.

The championship consists of three total rounds. Due to unfavorable conditions in Wednesday's forecast, both the second and third rounds will be played tomorrow, Tuesday, May 7. The top four teams from the Central Region will advance to the national championship, taking place May 14-18 at the PGA National Resort and Spa in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Piddon, who leads the individual field by two strokes, carded a one-under-par total of 70.

Pia Nunbhakdi and Jacqueline Klemm also had Round 1 finishes in the top ten, as they both carded totals of 75 (+4) and are tied with four other golfers for sixth place.

Sydney Staton (79, +8, T27) and Allie Weiner (80, +9, T35) rounded out the Tech card.

Four other Great American Conference teams are also competing in the regional; Southwestern Oklahoma State (305, +21, third), Henderson State (318, +34, T8), Southern Nazarene (320, +36, T10), and Oklahoma Baptist (321, +37, 12th). Henderson State entered the regional championships ranked No. 1 regionally, while Arkansas Tech was ranked No. 2, based on head-to-head competition.

At last year's Central Region Championships, Arkansas Tech advanced to the national championships with their third-place finish, carding a total of 902. The Suns entered last year's national championships ranked at No. 24 in the nation, according to GolfStat. This year's team is currently ranked No. 9 in the nation.

ROUND 1 TEAM RESULTS

POSITION TEAM ROUND 1 SCORE +/-

1 Arkansas Tech 299 +15

2 Northeastern State 302 +18

3 SW Oklahoma 305 +21

4 Lindenwood 310 +26

T5 Central Oklahoma 312 +28

T5 Central Missouri 312 +28

7 Minnesota State 317 +33

T8 Nebraska-Kearney 318 +34

T8 Henderson State 318 +34

T10 Southern Nazarene 320 +36

T10 Missouri Western 320 +36

12 Oklahoma Baptist 321 +37

ROUND 1 INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

POSITION PLAYER SCHOOL ROUND 1 SCORE +/-

1 Peerada Piddon Arkansas Tech 70 -1

2 Aitana Hernandez Northeastern State 72 +1

3 Gloria Choi SW Oklahoma 73 +2

T4 Luisa Gartmann Henderson State 74 +3

T4 Nina Lee Northeastern State 74 +3

T6 Jacqueline Klemm Arkansas Tech 75 +4

T6 Pia Nunbhakdi Arkansas Tech 75 +4

T27 Sydney Staton Arkansas Tech 79 +8

T35 Allie Weiner Arkansas Tech 80 +9