A historic opening round by Butler's Leo Zurovac has both him and the Bulldogs at the top of the leaderboard after the opening 36 holes of the Don Benbow Butler Spring Invitational.
 
Zurovac carded an eight-under 62 Monday morning on the 6,587-yard Highland Country Club course, setting both a course record and a new program-best for a par-70 course.
 
Zurovac followed that with a one-under 69 in the afternoon as his 36-hole total of 131 (-9) provides a three-shot cushion heading into Tuesday's final round.
 
Zurovac's morning round Monday included seven birdies and one eagle against a single bogey. Zurovac stood on the teebox of the 565-yard, par-5 12^th hole twice Monday and walked off the green with an eagle both times.
 
The Bulldogs hold a nine-shot advantage in the team standings after Monday's play. Butler carded rounds of 10-under 270 in the morning and seven-under 273 in the afternoon for a 36-hole total of 543 (-17). Zurovac is joined in the Top 10 individually by teammates Derek Tabor (who is tied for third at five-under 135) and Logan Sutto (his two-under 138 has him tied for ninth).
 
Butler leads SIUE (552) by nine strokes. Indian Hills CC, the top-ranked junior college in the nation, is third at 555. There are 12 teams in the field. Harry McArdle of Indian Hills is three shots behind Zurovac on the individual leaderboard at six-under 134.
 
Tuesday's final 18 holes are scheduled for a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
 
THE BUTLER MEN:
1) Leo Zurovac, 62-69—131 (-9)
T3) Derek Tabor, 70-65—135 (-5)
T9) Logan Sutto, 70-68—138 (-2)
T14) Luke Kruger, 68-71—139 (-1)
T24) Ethan Blomme, 70-72—142 (+2)
40) Jacob Tarkany (playing as an individual), 71-74—145 (+5)
T44) Johnny Creamean (playing as an individual), 70-76—146 (+6)
54) Will Horne (playing as an individual), 76-71—147 (+7)