PADUCAH, Ky. – Two Drake Bulldogs are in the top-five including junior Silvester Tan in a tie for first after one round of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship in the Country Club of Paducah, in Paducah, Ky. (par-72, 7,014-yard) on Sunday, April 24. Drake currently sits in second place after shooting 298 (+10) combined and are only three back from the leading Southern Illinois Salukis (+7). 
 
The story in the first round was the play of Tan, especially his play on the back nine. Finishing with a team-low 71 (-1) and in a tie for first with Southern Illinois' Matthis Besard, Tan put together some of his best golf of the season. Fighting through adversity after hitting two bogey's on the front nine, Tan would go onto sink a team-low and a tournament-low three under on the back nine. Through the final four holes, Tan would record a combined four under with the help of an eagle on the 18th hole, pushing himself back into contention for first place. 
 
With a team-high four birdies, senior Lucas Scherf punched his name on the leaderboard in a seven way tie for third place with a 74 (+2). 
 
Senior Tim Lim is not far behind after finishing his first round with a 76 (+4) putting him in a six way tie for 15th. Lim's career best finish in the MVC Championship is 15th place. 
 
Rounding out the day for the Bulldogs were the freshman Jack Dumas, who shot a 77 (+5) and is in 22nd, and Nick Gannas who is in a tie for 39th with an 83 (+11). Gannas' eagle on 18th made him one of only three players to score an eagle on the day. The other two being Tan and Evansville's Caleb Wassmer. 
 
Leading the MVC after one round is SIU (296) and in third the Valparaiso Beacons at 300 (+12). The second round will tee off tomorrow, April 25 at 8:30 a.m. (CT) with a shotgun start.