WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – The North Dakota State men's golf team and sophomore Ian Simonich led the way on day one of the Zach Johnson Invitational hosted by Drake at the Glen Oaks Country Club.
 
Simonich fired rounds of 67 and 68 on the par-71 course to take the lead after 36 holes at -7. Simonich, who had six birdies in round one and added five more in round two, has a three-shot lead on Valparaiso's Anthony Delisanti.
 
Simonich's rounds are a large part of NDSU's 11 shot lead over Iowa State headed into the final round on Tuesday. The Bison sit at -8 following rounds of -6 and -2 in the first and second, respectively. NDSU is 16 shots ahead of Valparaiso in third and 33 shots ahead of the closest Summit League school in the field, St. Thomas (+25).
 
Nate Deziel sits second overall for the Bison after two rounds. Deziel fired a +1 round of 72 to open up the day, but matched Simonich's -3 round on 68 in the afternoon to climb the leaderboard and sit in a tie for third overall in the 81-golfer field.
 
Nate Adams also sits in the top 10 for the Bison, entering the final round in a tie for eighth overall at even par. Adams shot a -2 round of 69 to open up the day, but closed out the afternoon with a 73, falling five spots from a tie for third after 18 holes.
 
Joining Adams in third after round one and wrapping up round one scoring for the Bison was Brock Winter. Following his 69 to open the day, Winter shot a 75 in round two, falling into a tie for 13^th overall at +2.
 
Gavin Cronkhite opened with a 73 in round one and followed it up with a 74 in round two to wrap the scoring for NDSU in the second round. Cronkhite sits in a tie for 18^th overall at +5.
 
Playing as an individual in the tournament, Josh Galvin shot rounds of 74 and 76 on day one. Galvin sits at +8 for the event, in 27^th overall, giving NDSU all six golfers in the top third of the field.
 
The Bison will close out the Zach Johnson Invitational on Tuesday. Tee times are slated for 9 a.m.