Sept. 18, 2009
OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. - Junior Erich Johnston fired a one-under 69 on Friday in the opening round of the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational presented by Cleveland Golf/Srixon to pace a Purdue squad that finished the day in a 14th-place tie.
The Boilermakers carded a total of 302 (+22) as a team on the opening day of play at the storied Olympia Fields Country Club, wrapping up competition just seven strokes away from a group tied in ninth place after a tightly-contested first 18 holes.
Johnston's performance on Friday matched his best collegiate round, set in the third round of last year's Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational, and gave him sole possession of fourth place, just a shot behind a group of three deadlocked at the top. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native tallied a pair of birdies and a bogey on the front nine before playing the back half at even par.
Junior Nakarintra Ratanakul carded an opening-round 75 (+5) on Friday to finish the day with a share of 36th place, while both junior David Gersztein and sophomore Tyler Duncan entered the clubhouse in a tie for 64th after shooting 79 (+9) to kick off the tournament. Freshman Henry Plager rounded out the Boilers' lineup with an 84 (+14) to stand in 74th place after the first day of play.
Purdue will take the course for the second round of the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational presented by Cleveland Golf/Srixon on Saturday with tee times beginning at 9:40 a.m. ET on the North Course's 10th tee. Live scoring will be available at golfstat.com.