Alabama breaks record low to lead at Schenkel E-Z-GO Collegiate
Bobby Wyatt
Statesboro, GA (March 16, 2012) -- Alabama's third-ranked men's golf team fired a school-record 20-under-par 268 in the opening round of the Schenkel Invitational on Friday at the par-72, 6,962-yard Forest Heights Country Club.
The 20-under par breaks the school record in relation to par by four strokes (2007 Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate) and the 268 equals the lowest score in school history set at the 2007 JPNI at the par-70 Old Overton Golf Club.
"The guys didn't have a good tournament in Las Vegas last week, so I was really proud of how they responded today - and that would be an understatement," Alabama head coach Jay Seawell said. "We didn't make a bogey today, and I have never had a team do that - I have never even seen that. When you don't count a team bogey it is a really good day. I'm really proud of the guys and looking forward to getting on it again tomorrow."
Alabama's top four scores were in the 60 while the Tide's drop score from Scott Strohmeyer was an even-par 72. UA's four-counting scores consisted of 20 birdies and no bogeys. It was Alabama's best round at the Schenkel Invitational by 12 shots, an event that they have played 20 times.
The Crimson Tide leads second-place Mississippi and Florida by 12 strokes entering Saturday's second round. The Rebels and Gators both shot 8-under 280 while Auburn was fourth at 6-under 282 and Virginia rounded out the top five at 5-under 283.
Sophomore Bobby Wyatt and freshman Justin Thomas led the Crimson Tide with 6-under-par rounds of 66 while sophomore Cory Whitsett shot 5-under 67 and senior Hunter Hamrick carded a 69. Wyatt and Thomas are tied for second place while Whitsett is in sixth and Hamrick is tied for eighth. Virginia's Ben Kohles leads the event with a 65.
The Crimson Tide will play with Florida and Mississippi in the second round and are scheduled to tee off at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
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ABOUT THE Schenkel Invitational
54 hole men's college tournament hosted by
Georgia Southern University. Team (best four scores of
five players each round) and individual competitions.
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