IOWA CITY—Matt Briggs (sophomore, Burlington, Notre Dame HS) navigated some tricky greens and helped push Central College into the first-round lead at the Central Fall Classic men's golf tournament Monday.
           
The tourney is being hosted at the par-72 Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City, also the site of the American Rivers Conference tourney next spring.
           
Briggs carded an even-par 72 and is second in the medalist standings behind Andrew Freeman of the Coe B squad, who fired a 70.
           
"Matt has played so well tee to green all fall," coach Mel Blasi said. "He's such a good driver of the ball. He played very smart today. He put the ball in good spots on the greens. The greens are extremely firm and very fast, so you find out who the best players are."
           
Central is on top of the 36-hole, 13-team tourney at 311 with St. Ambrose University's A and B teams each shooting 320 to share second place. Coe College follows at 321 with Loras College at 323 and the Central White squad in sixth at 324.
           
Harold Dobernecker (sophomore, Nevada) is tied for sixth at 76 while freshman Drew Rogers (Sullivan, Ill.) is tied for ninth at 78, Lucas Wendel (junior, Le Claire, Pleasant Valley HS) is at 85 and Kyle Gabos (junior, Plymouth, Minn., Maple Grove HS) is at 86.
           
"Harold Dobernecker played really well today, too, but he just didn't make many putts," Blasi said. "I know he's anxious to get back out there tomorrow."
           
But Blasi was disappointed in the team score.
           
"We didn't get a good fourth score," Blasi said. "If we had we would have maybe shot 304 or 305. But this is a good course and I think we learned some lessons about putting the ball in better positions."
           
Drake Hamilton (freshman, Westlake, Texas, Keller HS) on the Central White squad is tied for 12th at 79.