Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer
Trojans in Fifth After Opening Round
3/4/2011 9:37:06 PM | Golf (M)
USF INVITATIONAL LIVE SCORING | FIRST ROUND RESULTS
DADE CITY, Fla. – The Troy University men's golf team posted its best round of the year on Monday, shooting a combined one-under par 287 to tie with Arkansas State for fifth in the USF Invitational at Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club.
Fellow Sun Belt Conference member Middle Tennessee has a commanding lead in the event after posting a 14-under par score of 274 in the first round. Another Sun Belt team, North Texas, is in second, six shots behind the Blue Raiders.
Villanova (-5) and Florida Gulf Coast (-3) are third and fourth overall.
“We got off to a little bit of a slow start, but they guys all kept their focus and played well,” Trojans coach Matt Terry said. “We just have to keep battling over the next two days to stay in the hunt.”
Senior Reid Merritt was the top player for Troy, posting a three-under par score of 69 on Friday. He is just two shots off the first round lead, which is shared by four players who all shot 67.
Troy's other seniors, Chase Whitehead and Zach Portemont, both opened with even par rounds of 72. Freshman Nathan Kinch opened with a two-over 74. Only junior Ricky Casko, who has been Troy's best player all year, struggled in the first round. Casko finished with a 10-over par score of 82 in the first round.
The Trojans, who played with Middle Tennessee and Florida Southern in the opening round, will be paired with players from Arkansas State and Florida Gulf Coast when they open play on Saturday. The Trojans will begin play at 8:55 a.m. (ct) on Saturday.
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