DUNCAN, Okla. (Oct. 19, 2020) – Seeking to defend their 2019 tournament titles, Oklahoma Christian and senior Trevor Norby each jumped to the lead during the opening round of The Hrnciar, which began Monday at The Territory Golf and Country Club.

On a chilly and slightly windy day, OC posted a team score of 285 (3-under-par) to take a four-shot lead over West Texas A&M, with Midwestern State (Texas) another four shots back at 293. All nine teams in the field compete in the Lone Star Conference.

Norby, whose win in the tournament last year gave him the third of his four collegiate individual titles, was tied atop the 54-man leaderboard with Eemeli Jarvinen of West Texas A&M at 5-under-par 67, two shots ahead of Cameron's Devin Whipple. OC's Andres Brictson (70) was fourth and another Eagle, Mateo Pulcini, was tied for fifth at 71.

After a bogey on the par-4 No. 1, Norby – a senior from Carlsbad, Calif. – rattled off a stretch that included six birdies over 11 holes on the 7,110-yard course, the last one coming on the par-5 No. 15. It was the fifth time in Norby's three seasons with the Eagles that he's posted a score of 5-under or better.

Brictson, a junior from Merida, Mexico, was 2-over midway through the round but rallied with four birdes on the back nine. Pulcini, a freshman from Rio Cuarto, Argentina, was 1-over after 10 holes but had two birdies down the stretch.

Sophomore Alejandro Armijo of Rio Rancho, N.M., shot a 77 while junior Alex Motes of Sulphur Springs, Texas – who finished 12th during the summer on the course in the Oklahoma Golf Association's Stroke Play Championship – fired a 78.

The two OC players competing as individuals in the tournament fared well. Freshman Chase Gardner of Snohomish, Wash. – playing in only his second collegiate event – posted a 73 and was tied for 13th, while freshman Said Powers of Edmond was tied for 23rd after shooting a 75.

The final round will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday.