The powerful men's golf teams from Kirkwood and Mount Mercy are battling for top honors at the Cropper Golf Classic at Hunters Ridge.

Kirkwood owns the 18-hole lead at 295 after Saturday's competition, with Mount Mercy right behind at 300. The final round is scheduled for Sunday.

Bennett Laxton of Viterbo grabbed the first-day lead with a 2-under-par 70.

Jamie Booth led Mount Mercy with a 1-under 71, but he's playing for the Mount Mercy gold team and not with the group that's battling for the team title. Eddie Doyle and Mitch Williams topped Kirkwood at 1-over 73.

Team Standings

1. Kirkwood 295, 2. Mount Mercy 300, 3. (tie) Graceland 305, Grand View 305, Viterbo 305, 6. Mount Mercy Golf 309, 7. Black Hawk 322, 8. Loras 323, 9. Wartburg 324, 10. Monmouth 325, 11. Coe 328, 12. Black Hawk "B" 338, 13. Kirkwood "B" 339, 14. Buena Vista 351.

Kirkwood - 6. Eddie Doyle 73, 6. Mitch Williams 73, 9. Jordan Even 74, 12. Carson Whittington 75, 14. Dan Cutkamp 76.

Mount Mercy - 6. George Long 73, 12. Pedro Velasco 75, 14. Will Bruyeres 76, 14. Warren Bynoe 76, 14. Chad Nitz 76.

Coe - 19. Hunter Livermore 77, 39. Anthony Worden 81, 46. Jason Gingrich 83, 59. Seth Inman 87, 70. Hunter Mulnix 97.