MCDERMOTT, Ohio -- The men's golf program at Shawnee State posted another solid outing on the opening day of the Roger Merb Invitational Monday, as Shawnee State senior Ross Ferrell and Shawnee State junior Trey Cracraft each shot even par 72s to help the Shawnee State 'A' squad shoot a 297 and claim fourth overall following the opening round in the 19-team event, which was held at Elks Country Club in McDermott.

The Bears -- one of five programs in the field to shoot under 300 on the opening day -- got a nine-over 297 from its A group, which consisted of Cracraft, Ferrell, Logan Hughes, Max Kearns and Hunter Freeman.

Both Ferrell's and Cracraft's 72 came off of the back of 12 pars and three birdies apiece. Ferrell birdied the first, ninth and 11th holes in the event while Cracraft birdied the second, eighth and ninth holes over his own opening 18-hole jaunt -- and posted nine consecutive pars on the back nine. The duo are tied for sixth in what has ended up being a 97-player field.

Tanner Stevenson, who led the Shawnee State 'B' team to a seventh-place finish, also enjoyed a top-15 performance in the opening round of competition, tying for 12th. Stevenson eagled the 11th hole, birdied the first and second greens, and posted pars on seven additional holes to finish with a two-over 74.

Behind the main trio, three additional players -- Kearns and SSU 'B' teamers Jason Price and Kyle Salamon -- shot 76s to sit in a tie for 21st on the leaderboard. Hughes and freshman Reid Seimetz, who led the Shawnee State 'C' team, shot 77s to tie for 34th overall.

Breestin Schweickart (t-42nd), Freeman and Owen Mault (t-56th), Myles Phillips (t-62nd), Issac Doolin and Zander King (t-65th), Tanner Castle (t-85th) and Matt Harrison (91st) rounded out the performances for Shawnee State following the opening round of the event.

From a team perspective, West Virginia Tech leads the Roger Merb Invitational after the opening day, shooting a four-under 284 as a team -- nine strokes ahead of second-place Georgetown, who shot a five-over 293. Ohio Dominican (six-over 294), SSU and Mount Vernon Nazarene, who sits tied with Shawnee State at nine-over 297, round out the top five.

Individually, West Virginia Tech's Alvaro Iglesias' four-under 68 and Roberto Peiro's three-under 69 pace the tournament field.

The second day of the Roger Merb Invitational is set to get underway Tuesday at 10 a.m.