JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The No. 25-ranked North Florida men's golf team sits
atop the leaderboard of their home tournament, the John Hayt Collegiate
Invitational, following some record setting performances Sunday on the links
at Sawgrass Country Club.
The Ospreys posted a 12-under total 276 matching the tournament's record
low round shot by Augusta State in 2001. UNF's strong start also marks the
best first round in Hayt Invitational history.
UNF's Kevin Phelan also got in on the record setting, firing a tournament
record eight-under 64. The senior linkster bested the previous record mark
of 65, shot in 1999 by former Osprey standout and UNF Athletic Hall of
Famer David Bennett.
Phelan leads medalist play by four shots over a group of four players
including teammates senior Sean Dale and freshman Joe Stepnes, who
finished the day with rounds of four-under 68. UNF sophomore also finished
the opening round in red numbers shooting a two-under 70 (T-10th).
“Kevin played a great round today and that does not come easy on this
course,” said UNF head coach Scott Schroeder. “Sean and MJ also helped
the team out with very solid rounds. With the weather looking questionable
for tomorrow's round and several really talented teams not too far behind us,
we have to stay focused on the task at hand and just continue to try and
play our best golf.”
Redshirt freshman Taylor Hancock posted a 74 (T-38th) and sophomore Joey
Petronio finished with a 76 (T-55th) to round out the Osprey lineup. Five
UNF golfers competed as individuals with Stepnes pacing that group that
also included Taylor Johnson (73, T-33rd), Austin Padova (76, T-55th), Pete
Kellerman (76, T-55th) and Joey Marino (78, T-69th).
UNF holds a six stroke advantage in the team competition over No. 11 Duke
at 282 (-6). No. 45 UCF is third at 286 (-2) followed by No. 12 LSU (290),
No. 48 Coastal Carolina (291), No. 38 Tulsa (292), UAB (292), No. 7 Florida
(292), No. 14 Arkansas (293), No. 33 North Texas (293), No. 22 Tennessee
(294), Jacksonville (295), Furman (301), Mercer (301) and No. 44 Ole Miss
(311).
Tournament action in the Hayt Collegiate Invitational continues with second
round play Monday on the par 72, 6,988-yard layout of Sawgrass CC. The
Ospreys will be teamed with Duke and UCF off tee No. 1 beginning at 9:30
a.m.
View results for John Hayt Collegiate Invitational
ABOUT THE John Hayt Collegiate Invitational
54 hole men's college tournament hosted by
the
University of North Florida. Team (best four scores
of
five players each round) and individual competitions.
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