Storm in seventh after first day of Simpson Spring Invitational

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- Andrew Lallier carded an opening-round 75 and the Simpson men's golf team shot 308, good for seventh place on the first day of the Simpson Spring Invitational from Indianola Country Club on Monday.

The Storm are 16 strokes behind first-place Nebraska Wesleyan, who shot 292 to lead the field of eight teams. Grand View is six strokes back in second. 

Lallier is part of a three-way tie for 13th place after shooting 4-over at Indianola Country Club's par 71, 6,369-yard layout. Lallier turned in Simpson's best score on the front nine with a 39, then closed with a 36 on the back. He is five strokes behind Nebraska Wesleyan co-leaders Josh Nunnally and Matt Unruh, who shot 1-under.

Simpson's top finisher at last weekend's Wartburg Invitational, Nick Hartman is one stroke behind Lallier in a tie for 16th. Korbin Sesker shot 78 (t-22nd) and Blake Bender and Reid Cobb shot 79 (t-28th) to round out Simpson's varsity scores. 

Ben Butler (79, t-28th), Nick Baumhover (81, t-41st), Mitchell Brown (86, t-48th) and Bailey McMillan (97, t-50th) rounded out Simpson's competitors. 

The tournament concludes Tuesday at The Legacy Golf Club in Norwalk. Action gets underway at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start.