TULSA, Okla. – The University of Maine at Farmington golf team struggled with a long golf course and temperatures 60 degrees higher than when they left as they competed in Tuesday’s first round of the NAIA Golf Championship.

Taking the best four of the team’s five scores, the Beavers posted a 331 for the first round. That placed them well behind early leaders Huntington College of Montgomery, Ala., at 292 and Texas Wesleyan of Fort Worth at 293.

“The par-4s were very long. The distances were unsettling,” said Coach Roger Wing of the par-70 Tulsa Country Club layout. Two of the par-4s measured 464 and 470 yards, two par-3s measured 207 and 209, and two par-5s were 570 and 581.

Also, temperatures were in the 90s Tuesday with more of the same expected for today’s second round.

“When we went past the bank in Farmington the day we left, it said 32 degrees,” said Wing. The Beavers played in the morning Tuesday, but will play in the full heat of the afternoon today.

Ben Morey posted the best score for UMF, an 81. He was followed by Ryan Low with 82, Mark Wallace and Brett Tirrell with 84 each, and Jace Person with 85. The individual leader is Henrik Nystrom of Lynn University with 68.

Thirty-four teams and a total of 177 individuals are competing.