FGCU MGOLF: A-SUN Championship Day One Recap

The FGCU men's golf team ended Sunday's opening round of the 2019 ASUN Championships in fifth place. The tournament is being contested at the par-72, 7,032-yard Legends Course at Chateau Elan.

The Eagles shot 20-over-par 308 as a team to land between Jacksonville (16-over 304) and Lipscomb (22-over 310). North Florida, the No. 15-ranked team in the nation, holds a comfortable eight-stroke lead after shooting 1-over 289. No. 20 Liberty sits second at 9-over 297, while Kennesaw State found a top-3 spot at 12-over 300.

"It was tough conditions out there with the setup and gusting winds. We had some bad breaks and never really got into a rhythm throughout the day," FGCU coach Eric Booker said. "We had some good post-round practice to prepare for tomorrow. We need to execute the plan better tomorrow if we want to move up the leaderboard."

Sophomore Cole Castro and true freshman Chase Bigham joined a pack of competitors in a tie for 11th at 4-over 76 to pace the Green and Blue. Senior Andrew Potter is one stroke back in a tie for 16th at 5-over 77, while junior Doug Smith shot 7-over 79 to enter a tie for 26th. True freshman Tate Heintzelman is solo 40th after shooting 13-over 85.

Two UNF players (Phillip Knowles, Jordan Batchelor) and Jacksonville's Thomas Thurloway lead the individual field after all three competitors shot 2-under 70.

The Eagles will begin teeing off in Monday's second round at 11:10 a.m.

2019 ASUN CHAMPIONSHIPS – First Round Results
April 21-23, 2019 at Braselton, Ga.
(par-72, 7,032-yard Legends Course at Chateau Elan)

Team Results
1. #15 North Florida 289 (+1)
2. #20 Liberty 297 (+9)
3. #83 Kennesaw State 300 (+12)
4. #70 Jacksonville 304 (+16)
5. #147 FGCU 308 (+20)
6. #188 Lipscomb 310 (+22)
7. North Alabama 317 (+29)
8. #247 Stetson 325 (+37)
Rankings reflect the latest Golfstat Rankings

Top-5 Individuals
T1. Phillip Knowles (North Florida) 70 (-2)
Thomas Thurloway (Jacksonville) 70 (-2)
Jordan Batchelor (North Florida) 70 (-2)
4. Pablo Rodriguez-Tabernero (Kennesaw State) 71 (-1)
5. Kieran Vincent (Liberty) 72 (E)

FGCU Individuals
T11. Chase Bigham 76 (+4)
Cole Castro 76 (+4)
T16. Andrew Potter 77 (+5)
T26. Doug Smith 79 (+7)
40. Tate Heintzelman 85 (+13)