RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Following the first 18 holes of the NCAA Division II South Central/West Regional, No. 6 Oklahoma Christian is alone in fourth after carding an opening-round 10-under 278.

No. 1 and defending national champion Colorado Christian leads the field with an 18-under 270, followed by tournament-host CSU San Bernardino at 16-under 272 and No. 17 CSU East Bay at 15-under 273. With the top-six teams advancing to the National Championships, OC finds itself two strokes safe of seventh place.

Oskari Nikku did not card a bogey until his final hole of the first round, recording eight birdies and one eagle for a 9-under 63, marking the best single round in relation to par in program history. The historic opening round has Nikku tied for the lead in the 108-player field.

Vertti Perala and Joey Lewis played the second-best round of the Eagle golfers as the duo shot 1-under 71 to sit 35th on the player leaderboard. Both Perala and Lewis, after carding 1-over 36s on the front nine, closed their final nine holes bogey-less with two birdies to close day one under par.

Two-time defending LSC Individual Champion Leandro Mihaich finishes the inaugural 18 as the final countable score for the maroon-and-gray with a 1-over 73 for a spot at 66th. Exequiel Rodriguez rounded out the Eagle five-bag with a 4-over 76.

No. 6 Oklahoma Christian will return to Victoria Club for the second round when Perala gets the day started with his 11:30 a.m. CT tee time.