April 7, 2008

BOSSIER CITY -- Sigmundur Masson led a McNeese State charge that had the Cowboys in first place of the Hal Sutton Intercollegiate golf tournament after day one here Monday.

Masson turned in a six under par 138 to hold a seven stroke lead individually while the Cowboys as a team held a two shot lead.

The tournament, which is being played at the Freddie Couples designed Stonebridge Golf Course, will conclude after 18 more holes of play on Tuesday.

McNeese is making its first appearance since March and the Cowboys shot team rounds of 296 and 294 for a 590. Birmingham Southern was in second place at 592 followed by North Dakota State at 609, host Centenary at 611, Brown 624 and Alabama State 655.

The Cowboys had all five players in the top 15 after the opening day. Brandon Eaton was eighth with 763-76--149, Cory Vincent was 10th at 75-77-152, David Wiggins was 11th at 76-77-153 and Justin Ougel was tied for 12th at 79-75--154.

McNeese is in contention to win a team title for the first time this season and for the first time since winning its own Moe O'Brien Memorial in 2006.

Also, Masson is after his first championship since winning the Moe O'Brien in 2006.

"I am very happy with the results but we did leave some strokes on the course," said Cowboy coach Neel DeRouen. "We didn't play the par threes very good and we didn't finish very well. We did hit the ball pretty good.

"But, tomorrow we're going to have to do a better job coming in."

DeRouen said that the par 72, 6,954 yard course played about as good as it could play.

"The greens were real smooth and holding," he said. "It was really a perfect day for golf as far as the weather. When we teed off it was a little cool but it got near perfect later on with very little wind blowing."

As for Masson, after his opening even par 72, he caught fire in the afternoon and posted the day's top round, a six under 66. He had seven birdies and one bogey in the afternoon.

DeRouen said that the key for Masson during the day was his consistency.

"Every time I looked around he was right down the middle," the Cowboy coach said.

With a seven shot lead, Masson is expected to go on and close out the individual title on Tuesday.

"Knowing him, I would think that he's going to be trying to see how far he can get out ahead of everyone," DeRouen added.

Next week McNeese will host the Southland Conference tournament on its home course of Gray Plantation.