McGrady Leads Trojans On Opening Day of SBC Championship

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. ? Troy University junior Michael McGrady fired an opening round 67 on Monday to pace the field at the Sun Belt Conference Golf Championship.

McGrady, a native of Harrare, Zimbabwe, recorded pars on the first seven holes at the Robert Trent Jones “The Fighting Joe” Course before carding his first birdie on the 406-yard, par-four eighth hole. He played the back nine at four-under 32 with birdies on the 413-yard, par-four 11^th, the 581-yard, par-five 12^th, the 537-yard, par-five 17^th and the 151-yard, par-three finishing hole.

“I knew going in that the back nine suited my game a little better,” McGrady said. “I had hoped to play the front even and then take my chances on the back. The weather is perfect and the course is set up to score well. I am happy to have gotten off to a good start.”

McGrady's round spurred the Trojans into eighth place overall in the tournament with a score of 294. Teammate Jordy Hayden, a senior from Livingston, Ala., had the hot hand early in the opening round, but dropped two shots in the final three holes and finished the round at even par with a 72.

Troy also got solid opening rounds from juniors Wes Parker (Enterprise, Ala.) with a 77, and Jake Brodhead (Warsaw, Ind.) with a 78. Junior Jay Harris (Killen, Ala.) got off to a slow start on his home course and finished the day with an 80.

“We left a couple of shots out on the course or we'd be in even better position than we are now,” Trojans' head coach Matt Terry said. “We have given ourselves a chance to be in the hunt to win this tournament. We have to come back tomorrow and continue to make good shots and good decisions.”

Terry said it took Harris, who was playing in front of several family members and friends, a few holes to settle down.

“On the first tee his hands were shaking so badly he could barely put his tee in the ground,” Terry said. “Once he got those opening jitters out of the way, he played pretty well. I think he will come back tomorrow and have a good round.”

Troy will need McGrady, Harris and the rest of the squad to come back strong on Tuesday in order to keep pace with Louisiana-Lafayette, which set the standard on Monday with a team opening round of eight-under par 280.

Junior Devin Carrey (South Surrey, B.C.) led the Ragin' Cajuns with an opening round 69, placing him in a four-way tie for second place in the tournament. Denver sophomore Espen Kofstad (Oslo, Norway) led the Pioneers, who are four shots back of ULL at 284, with an opening round 69. He joins South Alabama senior Johnny Caldwell (Northern Ireland) and Western Kentucky senior Brent Long (Carthage, Tenn.) in the group two shots behind McGrady.

The Trojans will look to move up the leaderboard on Tuesday when they return to “The Fighting Joe” course for an 8:15 a.m. tee time.

Troy University Athletics

McGrady Leads Trojans On Opening Day of SBC Championship

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