Lenoir-Rhyne and Carson-Newman Tied for No. 1 After Day One of the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Men’s Golf Championship
ETOWAH, N.C. – Lenoir-Rhyne and Carson-Newman each fired an opening-round 295 to tie atop the leaderboard after a difficult first day of play at the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Men's Golf Championship.
The Bears were led by a two-under 70 from Hunter McCombs, who tied for the lead after a round that featured five birdies. McCombs shared the lead with Jon Noble of Queens after the sophomore fired three birdies and an eagle on the first six holes.
Three Lenoir-Rhyne players finished their rounds at three over in support of McCombs to put the Bears in prime position entering Monday's second round. Ulisses Toledo, the Bears' No. 5 player, had the most impressive streak of any Lenoir-Rhyne player, carding birdies on each of the final four holes to finish the back nine at two-under and pull the Bears even with Carson-Newman.
The Eagles entered the tournament ranked third in the Southeast Region and 17th in the latest national coaches' poll. A trio of Eagles ended the day tied for third at one over par, while Andrew Hall provided the Eagles' fourth score with a four-over 76. Each of the four players to contribute to the team total notched at least two birdies on the afternoon.
The Bears and Eagles sit atop a tightly-packed field that features nine teams within nine strokes of the lead. The duo opened up a three-stroke lead on Mars Hill, while Coker and Lincoln Memorial are tied for fourth five strokes off the pace.
Queens and Wingate are tied for sixth place at 15 over par eight strokes out of the lead, while Newberry and tournament hosts Brevard sits one stroke further behind. Anderson (+22), Tusculum (+23), and Catawba (+29) round out the field.
While McCombs and Noble were the only players to finish the first of three rounds under par, a slew of contenders sit three strokes off the lead. The Carson-Newman trio headlines a host of seven players at one over through 18 holes. In all, 25 players finished the first round within five strokes of the leaders.
Second-round action will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.