Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech’s Niilo Maki-Petaja made history on Sunday, shooting a freshman record 64 (-8) to lead the Bulldogs in round one of the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate at Blackthorn Club at the Ridges.
There was only one slight blemish on Maki-Petaja’s scorecard and that was a bogey on the Par 3, 228-yard No. 16, which played as the fourth hardest hole on the course.
The rest was stellar. Playing in just his second ever collegiate event, he opened the round with birdies on holes one and two, both short Par 4s. Then he birdied No. 4, No. 6, and No. 8 to shoot a 31 on the front nine.
“I knew he was playing good, you could see it,” said head coach Matt Terry. “I saw him birdie No. 1 and you could tell he was hitting the driver really well. The course was not easy. He did not miss any close putts. He made everything inside eight feet.”
The momentum carried over to the back nine as he made the turn, sinking birdies on No. 10 and No. 11 (seven birdies in first 11 holes). He made it a perfect sweep of making birdies on all four Par 5s, the last one being on No. 14.
The bogey-free round ended on No. 16, but Maki-Petaja got that one back with a birdie on No. 18 to set the freshman record. He was the only golfer who had a career day as he sits second individually behind Mats Ege of host East Tennessee State who shot 62 (-10) and set the tournament record.
As a team, LA Tech shot 293 (+5) after 18 holes which puts the ‘Dogs in 13th among a field that features 10 programs ranked in the top 100.
“We have to play No. 8 and No. 9 better tomorrow,”said Terry. “We have to clean up that stretch and be more efficient with shots. We hit a lot of good putts today that did not go in. Get some rest and go out early tomorrow. We are close to playing really good golf.”
Lake Juban had the second lowest score for the Bulldogs, shooting 74 (+2) despite a triple bogey on the par 5, 534-yard No. 8. Jake Plumb shot 77 (+5) while Will Patrick shot 78 (+6).
