KOKOMO, Ind. -- On Friday evening, the primary Shawnee State men's golf lineup, along with longtime Shawnee State men's golf coach Dave Hopkins, joined their friend, and teammate, Ross Ferrell on the biggest day of Ferrell's young life -- as Ferrell got married to Kate Ferrell Friday evening in Sidney, Ohio -- not far from Ferrell's hometown of Tipp City.

The Bears had to sacrifice their practice round because of the marriage -- but in this instance, Ross and the entire Shawnee State men's golf program was happy to oblige.

It certainly didn't hurt Shawnee State's play any on the opening day of the Crimson Classic -- as Shawnee State got a second-place performance from Max Kearns while Trey Cracraft and the newlywed Ferrell tied for eighth to help the Bears sit just six shots off of the lead and claim second place of four teams on the opening day of the Crimson Classic, which was held at Wildcat Creek Golf Course in Kokomo, Ind. Saturday afternoon.

Kearns, who shot a two-over 73 on the opening round of the tournament, played some of his best golf since suiting up in a Shawnee State uniform -- as the junior from Cincinnati birdied four holes, including the following:

• Hole No. 1, 402-yard par four
• Hole No. 2, 532-yard par five
• Hole No. 9, 525-yard par five
• Hole No. 10, 405-yard par four

Kearns ultimately shot a one-under 35 on the front nine holes, and posted pars on nine additional greens en route to tying for second place on the leaderboard with Georgetown (Ky.)'s Laine Schulten. The duo sit just two shots back of the current leader in the clubhouse, Georgetown's Carter Zuttleman, after the latter shot an even-par 71 to begin the tournament.

Ferrell and Cracraft, who are both eighth, each birdied two holes while posting 11 and 10 pars, respectively, in the opening round -- as the duo also sit inside the top-third of the 26-player tournament.

Tanner Stevenson (tied for 15th), Logan Hughes (16th) and Hunter Freeman (tied for 24th), rounded out the Shawnee State players who competed during the opening day of the Crimson Classic.

Each of the four teams competing in the tournament -- Georgetown (297), Shawnee State (303), Brescia (305) and Indiana-Kokomo (308) -- sit just 11 strokes apart of one another heading into the final 18 holes of the tournament.

Shawnee State will take part in the second and final round of play at the Crimson Classic Sunday at the Wildcat Creek Golf Course in Kokomo, Ind. Sunday.