SILVIS, Ill. - Oklahoma City University moved into a tie for first place in the NAIA men's golf championships Thursday at TPC Deere Run.

Individually, Justin Lower of Malone held the edge with a 68-70-71-209. Brett Quitiquit of Madonna (Mich.) trailed by six shots, while OCU's Julian Valenciana was eight strokes behind. Valenciana, a senior from Monterrey, Mexico, recorded a 69-73-75-217.

Valenciana dropped in birdies on the second and seventh holes for the second consecutive day. Valenciana settled for bogeys on six holes Thursday.

Clark Collier of the Stars carded a 72-74-74-220. Collier, a sophomore from Edmond, Okla., buried a birdie on the par-4, 377-yard eighth hole during the third round. Collier had four bogeys, one in the final nine holes. He played the back nine at 1-over-par to put himself in eighth place.

Ben Bench of OCU recorded a 73-76-82-231 through 54 holes. Bench, a senior from Oklahoma City, knocked in a birdie on the eighth hole, but gave back strokes with three bogeys and four double bogeys.

Taylor Artman contributed an 80-80-75-235 for the Stars, and Michael Palmer has compiled a 79-76-80-235. Artman, a sophomore from Norman, Okla., sank birdies on the par-4, 424-yard fifth hole, par-4, 356-yard sixth hole, par-5, 576-yard 10th hole and the par-4, 353-yard 14th hole. Artman finished Thursday's round with six bogeys and a double bogey.

Southern Nazarene (298-294-318-910) stood in eighth place, while Wayland Baptist (301-303-317-921) tied for 13th place.

Heinrich Frylinck had a 74-74-76-224 to spearhead Southern Nazarene. Michael Loppnow's 69-75-79-223 led Wayland Baptist.

The field played under cooler temperatures and stiffer winds Thursday. The temperature reached 69 degrees, and the wind was up to 14 mph.