Murray State University Athletics
MSU Earns 9-Shot Lead At OVC Men's Golf Championship
4/27/2009 9:45:00 PM | Men's Golf
The Murray State Racers burst from the gate and into the lead at the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference Men's Golf Championship in Muscle Shoals,
The Racers fired a first round 289 to take a nine-shot lead over Austin Peay who carded a 298.
MSU head coach Eddie Hunt said his team had loads of confidence coming into the OVC Championship and they played like it in round one.
“This course is a tough track and the wind today made scoring even tougher,” Hunt said. “But our guys were able to grind out a very good score. We stayed confident all day and that just stems from the good season we've had.”
The Racers had three players turn in even-par rounds of 72. Chris Griffin bogeyed his first hole of the day, but played the rest of the round one-under. Jared Wolfe had two birdies in route to his 72, and Mitchell Moore's 72 featured five birdies to off set three bogeys and a double-bogey. Nick Newcomb came home with a 73, and Cameron Carrico had a 37 on the back nine to get in with a 76.
The Racers played a great back nine when the set of five players completed the 45 holes with only five bogeys and one double-bogey. MSU had six birdies to offset the mistakes.
MSU is a step closer to winning the OVC for the first time since 1991, but Hunt cautioned there is a long way to go.
“I'm very pleased with the way we played today, but this is a long haul, you've got to do it over three days and 54 holes,” Hunt said. “We've got to make sure we stay in the present and I know it is a cliché, but you have to take it one shot at a time.”
Individually,
Hunter Hawkins of
Tennessee Tech (309) is in fifth place, while UT Martin (311),
Round two begins Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. with all of the 45 competitors starting from the first tee.
Round one was played in warm but very windy conditions on a Fighting Joe course that is the longest in OVC history at 7,188 yards. The par-72 layout features large greens in a links style. The course includes a 621-yard first hole, a par five.
