Men's Golf Southern Conference

Saturday's Men's Golf Roundup

Samford in lead at Hummingbird Intercollegiate

SAPPHIRE, N.C. – The Samford University men’s golf team posted a 2-under-par 282 on Saturday to move into sole possession of first place at The Hummingbird Intercollegiate being hosted by Western Carolina University at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley.

Following the opening round of competition, Samford held a four-stroke advantage over Belmont (286). Southern Conference foe Wofford turned in a first-round mark of 292 to move into third place, while Francis Marion and Gardner-Webb finished the day tied for fourth at 295.

Host school Western Carolina completed the opening round of play tied for sixth place with Elon at 298.

The Bulldogs were paced by senior Casey O’Toole and sophomore Zach Hughes. Both of Samford’s standout performers finished the first round of the 54-hole tournament with identical scores of 2-under-par 69. Samford’s O’Toole and Hughes were both tied for fourth place in the individual standings.

Senior Drew Aimone is also listed in the top 10 as the Bulldogs’ talented native of Savannah, Ga., fired an 18-hole score of 70 on Saturday. He ended the day in a tie for seventh place, while Samford’s Gabe Hyde and Bill Nabors finished tied for 23rd place with opening-round marks of 74.

Gardner-Webb’s Daley Byles carded a 4-under-par 67 on Saturday to lead the pace on the individual side of The Hummingbird Intercollegiate.

 

Wofford third at Hummingbird Intercollegiate

SAPPHIRE, N.C. – Cory Taylor leads the Wofford men’s golf team with a 68 after the opening round of the Hummingbird Intercollegiate at the par-71 Country Club of Sapphire Valley on Saturday.

Taylor is tied for second and one shot off of the tournament leader after his opening round.

As a team, the Terriers carded a 292 and sit 10 shots off of tournament leader Samford, which carded a 282.  Belmont is six shots below the Terriers with a 286.

Chandler Brazeal shot a 70 and is tied for seventh, while Charles Moore and Brent McKenzie each shot a 77 and sit tied for 37th.  George Perkovich is the final Wofford golfer with an opening-round score of 79, tying him for 59th.

The second round of play resumes Sunday morning at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley.

 

Western Carolina tied for sixth at own Hummingbird Intercollegiate

SAPPHIRE, N.C. – Samford turned in a team score of 2-under 282 on Saturday to take a four-stroke lead after 18 of the 36 scheduled holes at the 2012 Hummingbird Intercollegiate being held at the par-71, 6,767-yard Country Club of Sapphire Valley. Tournament host Western Carolina carded a team 298 in the first round to stand tied with fellow Southern Conference member Elon in sixth place.

The final round is scheduled for Sunday with tee times beginning at 8 a.m. on both the front and back nine. Paired with golfers from Gardner-Webb and Francis Marion – teams tied for fourth after the opening round – WCU’s first golfer tees off at 8:45 am on the Hole No. 1.

Gardner-Webb’s Daley Byles carded a 4-under par 67 on Saturday to pace the 82-golfer field after the opening round. Byles round included five birdies, one bogey and 11 pars

Leading the way for Western Carolina is true freshman Tyler Lail, who posted a career-low, even-par round of 71 on Saturday. Lail opened with a birdie on his first hole and carried the 1-under into the par-4 eighth before a bogey moved him back to even. However, Lail managed a birdie on No. 9 to make the turn at 1-under.

A bogey on the par-4 10th relegated the Conover, N.C., native back to even, finishing his final eight holes with another birdie and bogey to shoot even for the round.

Redshirt senior Kyle Wilson is in the clubhouse in a tie for 23rd overall, shooting a three-over 74. Junior Jack Walsh is tied for 33rd after a 5-over 76, followed by WCU’s seasonal scoring leader, sophomore J.T. Poston, in a tie for 37th at 77 – his worst round of the season by one stroke after shooting 76 in the first round of the Saint Mary’s Invitational.

Rounding out WCU’s team finishers is senior Steven Smith, in at 7-over 78 in a tie for 50th.

WCU has four players competing unattached as individuals with junior Greg Bunner and sophomore Matthew Turner holding the highest standing after 18 holes. Both Bunner and Turner shot 6-over 77s on Saturday and are amidst a tie with 11 other golfers for 37th place. Redshirt sophomore Collin Witiak shot 78 and is tied for 50th with senior Trey White in a tie for 65th after firing 80 in the first round.

 

Elon tied for sixth at Hummingbird Intercollegiate

SAPPHIRE, N.C. – Stuart Kaufman shot an even-par 71 on the first day of the Hummingbird Intercollegiate on Saturday to lead the Elon Phoenix men's golf team to a tie for sixth after the first day of play.  The Maroon and Gold shot a 298 as a team and sits in a tie with host Western Carolina.

Kaufman's 71 has him in a tie for ninth individually in the field of 82 players.  He was followed by John Somers, who posted a 1-over 72 to sit in a tie for 13th.

Also in the top 25 is Will DiIanni, who carded a round of 74 on Saturday.  DiIanni is tied for 23rd.

Jack Adkins’ 81 places him in a tie for 71st, while Raphael Higuet sits in a tie for 75th after a round of 84.

Competing as an individual, Troy Beaver will begin Sunday's final round in a tie for 19th after he shot a 73 on Saturday.  Both Blayze Dipasquale and Matthew Brady are in the field as individuals, as well.  Dipasquale carded a first-round 78 and is tied for 50th, while Brady shot an 80 to sit in a tie for 65th.

The individual lead is held by Gardner-Webb's Daley Byles.  Byles posted a round of 67.

Samford (282) holds a four-stroke edge over Belmont (286) for the team lead following 18 holes of play.

The rest of the top five features Wofford (292), Francis Marion (295) and Gardner-Webb (295).

The final 18 holes will be contested on Sunday at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley.

 

Appalachian State in eighth at Hummingbird Intercollegiate

SAPPHIRE, N.C. – Appalachian State’s men's golf team is in eighth place after Saturday’s round one of the Hummingbird Intercollegiate at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley.

Senior Daniel Walsh and junior Casey Komline paced the Mountaineers on day one, carding 73s (+2), tying for 19th overall on the afternoon. Josh Nichols finished the day in third for the Mountaineers as he ended one stroke behind Komline and Walsh and tied for 23rd overall.

Jay Brown capped off round one nine strokes over par with an 80 and tied for 65th, while Drew Harris rounded out the scoring for Appalachian State with an 86 (+15).

Appalachian State concluded the day in eighth place with a 300 (+16). Southern Conference foe Samford is leading the tournament after day one, going 2-under par.

Appalachian State will tee off for round two of the tournament on Sunday at 8 a.m.