ROCK HILL, South Carolina– Led by third-year Jacob Visser (St. Catharines, Ont.) the Trinity Western Spartans men's disc golf team had a strong start to the Collegiate Disc Golf National Championships Wednesday at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. As a team the Spartans finished the opening day tied for fifth place overall out of the 50 Div. I teams.
 
Visser qualified for the final 16 tomorrow after finishing the day at tied for third at -4 to lead the Spartans. Visser scored a round of 1029, his second best score ever. Second-year Owen Field (Comox, B.C.) opened with a score of -2 to sit tied for 10th, first-year Everett Dabbagh (Edmonton, Alta.), who filled in for third-year Nathan Friesen (Ottawa, Ont.), finished at +5, with third-year Zach Ruptash (Grande Prairie, Alta.) finishing at +9.
 
Friesen, who was the Spartans top singles player a few weeks ago in Oregon, was unable to play today because of scheduling conflict with a physiotherapy exam.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will continue the tournament tomorrow with the team competition, and the round of 16 in singles play. Visser and Field will be competing for the national singles championship.
 
QUOTABLE
Trinity Western head coach Chris Hartmann
"The level of competition is so high this year and it's so rewarding to see Jacob and Owen be in this position and have this amazing opportunity to play at the highest level."
 
"Traditionally on the men's side, we have been a pretty slow starting team. Singles is usually first and we are usually much stronger as a team, but today that trend was upset as we have two players qualifying for the final 16 and have us in a strong position entering team play."
 
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country, and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 14 U SPORTS team championships and 34 Canada West team championships.
 
About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in U SPORTS. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
 
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