Mathers’ 8-under 64 sets pace on Day 1 of Gordin Classic
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Huntingdon senior Drew Mathers continued his record-setting start to the fall in the first two rounds of the Gordin Classic on Monday.
Mathers set a new Huntingdon NCAA-era record with a 12-under-par 132 in the first two rounds. He fired an 8-under 64 in the first round at Columbus Country Club and closed the day with a 4-under 68 in Round 2.
For the third time in as many tournaments this fall, Mathers turned in a career-best round. This time, his best round tied the Hawks' NCAA-era record of 64. His 8-under-par broke the program's NCAA-era record for strokes under-par, which Mathers set last week.
Entering Tuesday's final round, Mathers leads the tournament by six strokes and the third-ranked Hawks are in second place with an 11-under 565. Huntingdon shot a 3-under 285 in the opening round and an 8-under 280 in the second round.
In a 15-team field that features 12 nationally ranked teams, including the top-eight teams in Division III, second-ranked Illinois Wesleyan has a three-stroke lead on the Hawks at 14-under 562. Top-ranked Emory is three strokes behind Huntingdon in third with an 8-under 568 and fourth-ranked Wittenberg is fourth at 7-under 569.
Huntingdon's two-round 565 is tied for the third best two-round total by the Hawks during the NCAA era. Four Hawks were under-par in the second round.
Six strokes behind Mathers, there is a five-way tie for second at 6-under 138. Three Hawks are within seven strokes of second place and in the top-30 in the field of 75 golfers.
Sophomore Carson Whitton and junior Connor Bruce each shot an even-par 144 in the first two rounds and are tied for 23rd. Whitton shot a 2-over 74 in the first round and a 2-under 70 in the second round. Bruce shot a 1-over 73 in Round 1 and a 1-under 71 in Round 2.
One stroke behind Whitton and Bruce, junior Owen Burt is tied for 28th with a 1-over 145. Burt had a 2-over 74 in the opening round and finished the day with a 1-under 71.
Sophomore Cody Argade finished the first two rounds with a 7-over 151. Argade bounced back from a 6-over 78 in the first round and closed the day with a 1-over 73.
Coming Up: Huntingdon will play in the final round of the Gordin Classic on Tuesday.