Huntingdon’s Lester seven strokes off the lead after Rd. 1 of Jekyll Island Invitational

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. – Huntingdon's Jamey Lester shot an even-par 72 on Friday and is seven strokes out of first after the first round of the Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational.

Three Hawks shot in the 70s and Huntingdon finished with a 309 at the Jekyll Island Country Club. Despite the solid showing, the Hawks need to make up ground in next two rounds.

Huntingdon is in 24th, trailing tournament-leader Methodist (279) by 30 strokes and second-place Oglethorpe (281) by 28 strokes.

Three Methodist golfers shot 70 or better on Friday and two Oglethorpe golfers shot 69 or better. Methodist's Robby Bruns leads the field at 7-under-par 65. Oglethorpe's Eric Quinn is second at 5-under 67. Overall, seven players shot in the 60s and 26 players shot par or better.

Lester's even-par round is tied for 18th. Huntingdon's Rodes Bowers is 11 strokes out of first at 76 and Steven Smith is 14 strokes back at 79. Sam Strachan and Griffin Just both shot 82 on Friday.

Huntingdon individual results

T18) Jamey Lester: 72

T62) Rodes Bowers: 76

T101) Steven Smith: 79

T126) Sam Strachan: 82

T126) Griffin Just: 82

Team standings

1. Methodist University: 279

2. Oglethorpe University: 281

3. University of La Verne: 288

4. Illinois Wesleyan: 290

T5. Emory University: 292

T5. University of Texas-Tyler: 292

7. LaGrange College: 294

8. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps: 295

9. Transylvania University: 296

T10. Coastal Georgia: 298

T10. Ferrum College: 298

12. Hampden-Sydney: 299

13. Rhodes College: 300

T14. St. John Fisher College: 302

T14. Bridgewater College: 302

T14. Greensboro College: 302

T17. Centre College: 304

T17. Christopher Newport: 304

T17. Millsaps College: 304

T17. Carnegie Mellon University: 304

T21. Birmingham-Southern: 305

T21. Randolph-Macon College: 305

23. Otterbein University: 307

24. Huntingdon College: 309

25. Trinity University: 311

26. Sewanee: 315

T27. Roanoke College: 318

T27. Maryville College: 318

29. Macalester College: 338

30. Piedmont College: 341