Collin Thompson led the field with an 8-under par in the first round of Division I singles. Photo: Hayden Henry / PDGA

Collin Thompson and his Illinois State teammates saw an Instagram post for a qualifier event for the College Disc Golf National Championship.

A week later, they officially formed a club and hit the road.

That led to Marion, North Carolina this week at the 2022 CDGNC and, after Thursday’s opening round of the Men’s Division I singles event, Thompson finds himself atop the leader board.

“It was really good,” Thompson said of his round. “I just kind of took the strokes where I could and played it extra, extra safe.

“There was a ton of wind, so I was playing it safe and capitalized when I could.”

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High winds greeted the 216-player field on the Boulders course at North Cove Disc Golf Club on Thursday and it was Thompson turning in the hot round of 8-under par late in the day after the clubhouse leaders, who went off earlier, held steady at 7-under.

That trio includes 2021 U.S. Amateur champion Robert Burridge (Michigan), Evan Cole (RIT) and Trevor Strong (South Alabama). Ten more players are within four strokes of the lead.

Thompson carded one of just three bogey-free rounds on the Boulders course, a 7,027-foot, Par 60 track full of elevation changes, tight gaps and, of course, boulders.

“It’s incredible,” Thompson said. “I’m from Illinois, where we just have flat land all around so being up the mountains and playing courses where you get to throw longer shots rather that more wooded shots, it’s something that I have never really experienced that much before.”

This is the first season as a club for Illinois State, who hit the road to Peoria, Illinois and Jonesboro, Arkansas for qualifying tournaments this year.

“We’re really close,” Thompson said. “We’re always having fun and have good chemistry. I’m really excited to be here with these dudes. We put the club together this year so we have that energy like it’s our first time out here, let’s see what we can do.”

Thompson said the club started fundraising immediately and is in the process of becoming a formal recreational organization at Illinois State.

With Thursday’s singles rounds factoring into the overall team standings, Northern Arizona kept its spot atop the leaderboard with a one-stroke lead over Appalachian State, Texas, and Ferris State. Iowa State made the largest jump up the standings with an average of 57 among its singles scores.

The second round of the Division I team event is set for Friday morning. The Division I singles finals are set for Friday afternoon.