Dixon, UNCG lead USF Invitational
GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG men’s junior golfer Roy Dixon tied a school record by firing a 9-under-par 63 in round one of the USF Invitational to lift the Spartans into first place overall in the team standings with a school-record 275 after day one at the Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club.
The Spartans posted a team score of 13-under-par and are tied with No. 20 Florida State for the top spot. Their score of 275 is two shots lower than the previous team record of 277 set twice, once in 1995-96 (Stetson Intercollegiate) and once in 2004-05 (49er Collegiate Classic).
Dixon holds the overall individual lead at the tournament by one shot over Illinois’ Brian Campbell and Memphis’ Will Pearson, who both finished 8-under 64 Sunday. His score of 9-under 63 ties teammate Carter Jenkins, who carded that score in the fall at the Wolfpack Intercollegiate, and Drew Younts, who posted a 63 at the Mission Inn Collegiate in 2006-07.
Dixon was brilliant from the start of the round, as he was 5-under through the first five holes. He opened the day with a par on No. 10 before a birdie on No. 11 and No. 12, an eagle on the par-5 No. 13 and a birdie on No. 14. He closed out the front nine with another birdie on No. 17 to finish at 6-under through nine holes.
Dixon continued his dazzling play with birdies on No. 2 and No. 3 to drop to 8-under through 12 holes of play. He settled into a groove of three straight pars before his final three holes of the afternoon. His first hiccup of the day came on his 16th hole of play, the par-3 No. 7, where he bogeyed to drop to 7-under. Dixon was undeterred, though, as he rallied and birdied both the par-4 No. 8 and par-5 No. 9 to finish with his 63 score. His previous low score was a 4-under-par 68 set his freshman year at the VCU Shootout.
Junior Alex Ehlert is tied for eighth overall after tying his career-low score with a 3-under-par 69. The 69 is his lowest score of the season and matches his previous low set on two occasions. Ehlert was strong all round long, as well, posting five birdies and just two bogeys to go along with his 11 pars on the afternoon. He finished strong as well, notching a birdie on the No. 9 hole to cap his afternoon.
Freshman Jake McGlone returned to the lineup and sits in a tie for 25th overall with a 1-under-par 71, his second-lowest career score. McGlone tallied four birdies and three bogeys on the day. He also got under par on the final hole of the day with another birdie on No. 9.
Freshman Carter Jenkins finished the day with an even-par 72 and is tied for 37th overall. Jenkins had an up-and-down round, as he had an eagle-2 on the par-4 No. 3, three birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey on the par-4 No. 16. Sophomore Taylor Coalson rounded out the Spartans’ lineup Sunday as he posted a 3-over par 75.
The USF Invitational features 17 total teams, including seven ranked in the top 50 in the nation. Joining the No. 64 Spartans in the field are No. 7 Illinois, No. 20 Florida State, No. 23 Auburn, No. 33 South Florida, No. 35 Mercer, No. 36 Purdue, No. 37 Memphis, Ohio State, College of Charleston, Wisconsin, Florida, Eastern Michigan, DePaul, Cincinnati, Marquette and Air Force.
Chattanooga tied for 12th at Querencia Cabo Collegiate
CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico – The Chattanooga Mocs men’s golf team got off to a slow start at the Querencia Cabo Collegiate, shooting 307 on Los Cabos Querencia. Freshman Ewan Scott led the Mocs with a 4-over-par 75.
Scott’s 75 was one better than Liam Johnston at 76. Chris Robb and Davis Bunn rounded out the counting scores shooting 77 and 70, respectively.
Chattanooga is tied for 12th with Lamar, 14 shots better than Abilene Christian in 14th. Ole Miss is 11th, two better than the Mocs and Cardinals.
SMU and No. 11 Houston lead the way at 288. No. 1 Alabama is third after a 294. The Cougars’ Roman Robledo is the individual leader at minus-3 (68). He has a two-shot lead on Charlie Ewing (Vanderbilt) and Austin Smotherman (SMU).
Monday’s second round is a shotgun start at 8 a.m., local time. Chattanooga, Abilene Christian and individuals from participating teams open on holes 15-18.