STOCKTON, Calif.— Leo Lavalle posted a 3-under par round of 69 and is in second place in a field of 112 golfers while leading the Colorado Mesa University Mavericks to a team score of 293 and fifth place positioning following the first day of their spring season on Monday here at The Reserve at Spanos Park.
 
The Visit Stockton Division II Invitational field includes 21 teams and is a preview of the course which will host the NCAA Division II South Central/West Super Regional in May.
 
The Mavericks, who made 16 birdies as a team, are just three shots out of the team lead, currently held by CSU Pueblo at 290 (+2).
 
Lavalle made five birdies and just two bogeys on his trip around the 7,315-yar, par-72 course.  He is just one shot behind leader Jonathan Chen of Dominican University of California.
 
Senior Luke Wagstaff, who posted a 1-over par 73, and freshman Jacob Gonzalez, who fired a 74 (+2) are also well within the top half of the field.
 
Wagstaff had three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 11^th hole but made four straight bogeys on holes 13-16.  He is tied for 22^nd in the individual standings.
 
Gonzalez, making his first start in the Mavs' top five, is tied for 43^rd and made three birdies in his first six holes before slipping back with a double bogey on the ninth hole and three bogeys on the back nine.
 
The Mavs also counted Timmy Cavarno's round of 76 (+4) to their total.  He is in a tie for 57^th place.
 
The 36-hole tournament will continue on Tuesday.
 
Nine players did not finish their opening round due to darkness.