STATESBORO – Mason Williams fired a 66, while Hogan Ingram and Ben Carr each carded a 68 to stake the 19th-ranked Georgia Southern men's golf team to a 12-stroke lead in the first round of the 43rd playing of the Schenkel Invitational Friday at Forest Heights Country Club.

The Eagles (-16) made 29 birdies on the day and hold the lead over No. 24 Mississippi State (-4) in their home tournament. Wisconsin (-2) and Kentucky are tied for third, and Liberty (-1) is fifth.

Mississippi State's Hunter Logan shot a 65 and leads the tournament by a stroke over Williams. Carr and Ingram are tied for third. 

All five Eagles in the lineup shot under par today. Parker Claxton shot a 70 (T7), and Wilson Andress posted a 71 (T12). 

Williams and Ingram both shot 32 on the back nine. Williams had a clean card for the round and birdied his final three holes. Ingram made four birdies on the back, including two of his last three holes. Carr rolled in five birdies on the front nine on his way to posting a 31 on the side.

The field features five teams in the top-50 in the country, according to Golfstat. Georgia Southern is the defending champion and has won the event or finished runner-up in each of the last five times it was contested (2020 was canceled).

Scores
Team – 272 (-16), 1
Mason Williams – 66 (-6), 2
Ben Carr – 68 (-4), T3
Hogan Ingram – 68 (-4), T3
Parker Claxton – 70 (-2), T7
Wilson Andress – 71 (-1), T12
Luke Koenig* - 73 (+1), T27
Brantley Baker* - 74 (+2), T34
Luke Dasher* - 74 (+2), T34
Colin Bowles* - 75 (+3), T44
Hayden Carner* - 80 (+8), T73
Lindsey Cordell* - 81 (+9), T78
*Playing as individual

Quotable from Coach Carter Collins
"Really proud of the guys today. The wind blew most of the round, and they handled everything really well. There is still a long ways to go, and we're looking forward to starting over tomorrow. Hail Southern!"

Next up
The Eagles are paired with Mississippi State and Wisconsin for tomorrow's second round and tee off the first hole at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow.