DES MOINES, Iowa (September 27, 2021) – Led by a standout effort from graduate student Devin Johnson, the Loyola University Chicago men's golf team finds itself firmly in the title hunt after the first 36 holes of the Zach Johnson Invitational in Des Moines, Iowa.
 
The Ramblers closed the opening day of competition at the Glen Oaks Club (par 71, 6,898 yards) with a one-over-par 569 (284-285) that has them just two shots of back of North Dakota State (285-282=567), which leads the team race.  Southern Illinois' Matthis Besard carded a red-hot eight-under-par 134 (66-68) to charge to the top of the individual leaderboard.
 
Johnson spearheaded the attack for the Maroon & Gold in Iowa's state capital.  After turning in an even-par 71 that included an eagle on the par-five ninth hole to open the event, the Geneva, Ill. product fired a four-under-par 67, the top individual round on the day by a Rambler, to surge into fourth place with a 138 (71-67), four shots off the pace set by Besard.
 
Two strokes back of Johnson is Parkersburg, Iowa native Dylan Ellis.  Ellis, a junior, dazzled during the day's first round, notching an eagle of his own on the par-five 11^th hole en route to a three-under-par 68.  He added a second-round one-over-par 72 to move into a tie for sixth place at 140 (68-72). 
 
Junior Zach Walsh used a second-round rally to charge his way into the top 15, closing his day with an eagle and a birdie to cap-off an even-par 71 that has him in 15^th place with a 143 (72-71).  The duo of junior Timmy Crawford and redshirt senior Tyler Anderson find themselves within a stroke of one another.  Crawford is part of a tie for 38^th at 148 (73-75), while Anderson finished the day with a 149 (73-76) to reside tied for 41^st.
 
Graduate student Ryan Magee, who is competing as an individual, is tied for 79^th after posting a 158 (78-80).
 
Final-round play at the Zach Johnson Invitational will get underway with a 9 a.m. shotgun start on Tuesday morning.