Sander Leads Eagles to Fifth After Opening Day of John Hayt Collegiate Invitational
3/1/2010 1:28:00 AM | Men's Golf
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Florian Sander was one of only four individuals to record a sub-par round on the opening day of the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational Sunday (Feb. 28.). The redshirt-freshman fought the strong winds and cool temperature to launch a 1-under par 71 at the Sawgrass Country Club, a par-72, 6,895-yard course.
As a team, five Eagles combined for a 13-over 301, which puts them in sole possession of fifth place heading into round two, which tees off Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. Host No. 27 North Florida stands in first after an opening round even-par 288. Meanwhile, No. 30 Duke holds second six strokes back (294) and Furman claims third place at 8-over 296. TCU stands in fourth, three strokes in front of GS, with 298, while the Georgia Southern Eagles round out the top five.
“We were more patient today and, minus a few shots, hit smart shots,” said head coach Larry Mays. “Florian had a great round for us and as a team, we played a very solid round and we are pleased with our start.”
Strong winds played tough for all teams, but the Eagles held strong, led by Sander (Bregenz, Austria) who opened play with seven pars before launching a birdie on 17 to finish the front nine at 1-under. With two birdies on the first three holes of the back nine, Sander was 3-under heading to hole four. But consequence of the windy conditions, Sander recorded two bogeys over the final six holes to finish with a team-best 1-under par 71.
Senior Spence Fulford (Rocky Mount, N.C.) recorded a four-over 76 using five bogeys, three birdies and a double bogey to end the day. Fulford made the turn at even-par, but struggled on the back nine to finish in a tie for 28th on the day.
One stroke behind Fulford, junior Joe Monte (Chantilly, Va.) and senior Ryan Zabroske (Alpharetta, Ga.) own shares of 39th-place with matching 77s. Monte highlighted his opening round with four birdies, evenly split between the front and back nine, while Zabroske finished the back nine at 1-over after erasing a bogey on two with a birdie on three.
Completing the lineup for Georgia Southern, senior Matt Deal (Statesboro, Ga.) sits in a 64th-place tie with an 8-over 80. Competing as an individual, junior Logan Blondell (Lakeland, Fla.) finished day one at 6-over 78, in a tie for 51st.
“Today was tough with the wind, but we hung in there well and didn't give in to the conditions,” stated Mays. “We are looking forward to the second round tomorrow and hopefully we can move up a few spots.
“If we can combine our solid start with the way we've been playing in the final rounds, we will be in good shape for the tournament.”
The Eagles begin round two at 8:30 a.m. on Monday from the front nine.
As a team, five Eagles combined for a 13-over 301, which puts them in sole possession of fifth place heading into round two, which tees off Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. Host No. 27 North Florida stands in first after an opening round even-par 288. Meanwhile, No. 30 Duke holds second six strokes back (294) and Furman claims third place at 8-over 296. TCU stands in fourth, three strokes in front of GS, with 298, while the Georgia Southern Eagles round out the top five.
“We were more patient today and, minus a few shots, hit smart shots,” said head coach Larry Mays. “Florian had a great round for us and as a team, we played a very solid round and we are pleased with our start.”
Strong winds played tough for all teams, but the Eagles held strong, led by Sander (Bregenz, Austria) who opened play with seven pars before launching a birdie on 17 to finish the front nine at 1-under. With two birdies on the first three holes of the back nine, Sander was 3-under heading to hole four. But consequence of the windy conditions, Sander recorded two bogeys over the final six holes to finish with a team-best 1-under par 71.
Senior Spence Fulford (Rocky Mount, N.C.) recorded a four-over 76 using five bogeys, three birdies and a double bogey to end the day. Fulford made the turn at even-par, but struggled on the back nine to finish in a tie for 28th on the day.
One stroke behind Fulford, junior Joe Monte (Chantilly, Va.) and senior Ryan Zabroske (Alpharetta, Ga.) own shares of 39th-place with matching 77s. Monte highlighted his opening round with four birdies, evenly split between the front and back nine, while Zabroske finished the back nine at 1-over after erasing a bogey on two with a birdie on three.
Completing the lineup for Georgia Southern, senior Matt Deal (Statesboro, Ga.) sits in a 64th-place tie with an 8-over 80. Competing as an individual, junior Logan Blondell (Lakeland, Fla.) finished day one at 6-over 78, in a tie for 51st.
“Today was tough with the wind, but we hung in there well and didn't give in to the conditions,” stated Mays. “We are looking forward to the second round tomorrow and hopefully we can move up a few spots.
“If we can combine our solid start with the way we've been playing in the final rounds, we will be in good shape for the tournament.”
The Eagles begin round two at 8:30 a.m. on Monday from the front nine.
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