PLYMOUTH, Ind. - Ben Epperly of Kirkwood fired an even-par 72 in wet  conditions Tuesday and is tied for first place after the first round  of the NJCAA Division II national tournament at the Swan Lake Resort  Golf Course.

Epperly is tied with Brice Wilkinson of Mississippi Gulf Coast and  Will Kidder of Meridian at 72.

The Eagles are sitting in eighth place in the team standings. Only 12  of the 21 teams in the tournament were able to finish the first 18  holes Tuesday due to inclement weather.

The 72-hole tournament runs through Friday.

Walters State has the lead in the clubhouse at 9-over-par 297.  Kirkwood finished the day at 20-over 308.

KIRKWOOD: 1. Ben Epperly 72, 37. Ryan Morrison 76, 67. Will Babcock  79, 84. Dawson Peters 81, 84. James Morgan 81.