INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (March 29, 2021) – Led by four players in the top 25 on the individual leaderboard, the Loyola University Chicago men's golf team sits in fourth place after day one of the Butler Spring Invitational in Indianapolis, Ind.
 
The Ramblers fired back-to-back rounds of 292 for a two-round total of 584 (292-292) at the par-70, 6,551-yard course at the Highland Golf and Country Club.  Loyola is five shots back of Missouri Valley Conference foe Valparaiso, which sits in second at 579 (292-287).  Indian Hills Community College (285-284=569) leads the pack, while Indiana Wesleyan's Cameron Luczka carded a two-under-par 138 (70-68) to take the lead in the race for individual medalist honors.
 
Leading the attack for the Maroon & Gold on the first day of competition in The Circle City was the pairing of senior Devin Johnson (71-74) and sophomore Timmy Crawford (73-72), both of whom are part of a six-way tie for 11^th place at 145.  Johnson, out of Geneva, Ill., carded the low round of the day by a Rambler, firing a one-over-par 71 during the morning ahead of a second-round four-over-par 74.  A native of Arlington Heights, Ill., Crawford opened his day with a three-over-par 73 before shaving a stroke off that effort during the afternoon, turning in a two-over-par 72.
 
Following one of the top outings of his career last week at the Twin Oaks Intercollegiate, senior Ryan Magee kept momentum rolling, shooting an opening-round two-over-par 72 as part of a six-over-par 146 that has the Hawthorn Woods, Ill. product tied for 17^th.  Sophomore Zach Walsh also finds himself in the top 25, as he sits tied for 24^th after posting a 36-hole tally of 148 (76-72), highlighted by a two-over-par 72 in his second round.
 
Redshirt senior Nick Welden resides in a tie for 63^rd after he rounded out the Loyola starting five on the day with a 159 (81-78).
 
Final-round play at the Butler Spring Invitational will begin with an 8 a.m. (CT) shotgun start on Tuesday morning.  Live scoring can be accessed through Golfstat.com.