Huntingdon in first, three Hawks in the top four after Rd. 1 of conference tournament
LAGRANGE, Ga. – Three Hawks shot in the 60s and the Huntingdon men's golf team matched its best round of the season in the opening round of the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday.
The second-ranked Hawks shot an 11-under-par 277 and lead the nine-team field entering Friday's second round at Highland Country Club. Methodist is second at 10-under 278 and LaGrange is third at 3-over 291.
Huntingdon's 277 tied the Hawks' best round of the season and is tied for the program's second best round during the NCAA era.
Four of the Hawks' top-five shot par-or-better in the opening round. Junior Drew Mathers turned in his best collegiate round with a 5-under 67 and is tied with Brevard's Austin Fisher for the tournament lead.
Two strokes off the lead and tied for fourth, seniors Stephen Shephard and Mark Connelly each shot 3-under 69 in the opening round.
For Mathers, the second-ranked golfer in Division III, and Shephard, the third-ranked golfer in Division III, the opening round was their 16th round of par-or-better this season and tied the Hawks' NCAA-era single-season record.
Five strokes off the lead and tied for 14th, freshman Carson Whitton shot an even-par 72 in the first round. Senior Henry Gee rounded out the top five with a 3-over 75 and is tied for 26th.
Coming Up: Huntingdon will play in the second round of the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament on Friday.