WATERLOO - Practicing in Orlando's muggy 90 degree weather could do little to prepare University of Central Florida sophomore Jed Dirksen for Friday's first round of the Waterloo Open's amateur division. Strong winds and seasonably cool weather greeted Dirksen and a field of 273 golfers.

"I didn't even have any pants," said Dirksen, who led Hampton-Dumont to a state title in 2007. "I borrowed some from my dad and just threw on a sweatshirt. I wasn't really prepared for this cold weather."

On a day when scores were higher than the low 60-degree temperatures, Dirksen heated up on the back nine at Gates Park and took control of the tournament with a 4-under par 68. Northern Iowa's Kyle Bermel and Western Illinois' Jake Weeber finished three strokes back in second at 71.

"I had to keep shots under the wind and work it against the wind," said Dirksen who birdied five of his final nine holes out of the last foursome.

Dirksen's round was highlighted by a 65-to-70 foot putt that he made from the front of the green to the back pin placement on hole No. 14.

The son of former Waterloo Columbus graduate Sam Dirksen, finished his sophomore season as the No. 5 player at C-USA champion UCF. He transferred from Arizona State following his freshman year.

"I made the move so I could be in the lineup from week-to-week and just improve my game so I can get to the PGA Tour level hopefully one day," Dirksen said. "I got a little more experience. I was in the lineup more at Central Florida, so overall I think it's helped my game."

The University of Northern Iowa was well represented on the leaderboard, and it wasn't just members of golf team that are in the mix. Panthers' pitcher and 2005 Waterloo East graduate Derek Ott is in a four-way tie for third place at even-par 72.

After UNI's baseball program got cut, Ott received an offer to play in Texas. However, he's contemplating staying at UNI and trying out for the golf team this fall.

"It's been something I've wanted to do for a couple of years now," Ott said of collegiate golf. "Who knows? If I make it, I make it, and if I don't it's not a big deal."

Of the current Panthers, Bermel finished with the top amateur score at South Hills. Strong putting guided him to a consistent round that featured two birdies and one bogey.

"South Hills was playing pretty tough," Bermel said. "The greens were really hard, firm and fast, and the wind made it even harder."

Weeber, a junior at Western Illinois, also found conditions tough at Gates Park. He birdied 18 to join Bermel in the second-place tie.

"It's definitely playing a lot tougher than it has the last couple of years," he said.

Derek Ott's uncle, Jeff Ott, also fired a 72. A former East grad himself, Jeff Ott played AA minor league baseball with the Yankees organization and resides in Peoria, Ill. The 47-year-old has picked up golf after injury recently forced him out of competitive softball.

UNI's Troy Hoffman and Wartburg College men's golf coach Alan Johnson are tied with the Ott duo in third place at even par.

Jim Campbell leads the senior division with a score of 73. The 58-year-old has played countless Waterloo Opens including the first one at Porky's Red Carpet Club in 1971.

Last year there were 28 scores of even par or better on day one. This year, just seven.