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COLLEGE GROVE, Tenn. – Behind sophomore Jake Fendt, the 39th-ranked Kennesaw State men's golf team opened play at the NCAA College Grove Regional in College Grove, Tenn., on a positive note.
 
Fendt posted six birdies, including two on the final three holes, to shoot a 4-under par 68 and help the Owls to a 1-under par 287 and a fourth-place standing following Monday's first round at the par-72, 7,383-yard The Grove.
 
Behind the trio of Fendt, senior Christopher Guglielmo and freshman Connor Coffee, who all birdied the 18th hole, Kennesaw State is eight shots behind No. 2 and top-seeded Vanderbilt which leads the 13-team tournament with a 9-under par 279 total. No. 47 UCF (285) and Troy (286) are second and third, respectively, while Clemson (288) is fifth.
 
The top five teams following Wednesday's final round advance to the NCAA Championships scheduled for May 26-31 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill.
 
"It was a little bit of a shaky start early but the guys started getting into a groove around holes five and six and they fell into a comfort zone that continued into the back nine," head coach Bryant Odom said. "Chris and Jake played well on the front nine and as a group we steadied the ship throughout the middle of the round and had a really strong finish on 18.
 
"We're in great position for the next couple days and we know it's a 54-hole event," Odom added. "But obviously after the first round we're in pretty good shape to play well the next couple days."
 
Fendt, playing The Grove for the first time, is tied for fifth, two shots behind Vanderbilt's Patrick Martin and Bryson Nimmer, who matched the best collegiate tournament round in the history of The Grove after carding 6-under par scores of 66. Manuel Elvira of UCF and Cam Norman of Troy are tied for third at 5-under par 67.
 
Fendt was consistent throughout his round, shooting 2-under par on each side and posting just two bogeys.
 
"Overall, I hit my driver well and that is what you need to do because there are some tight holes as well as some long ones. I was fortunate enough to be wedging it well and putting becomes easy when you wedge it close to the hole," Fendt said. "It's a pretty fair course as far as a variety of long and short, narrow and wide holes, but the greens are pretty firm and fast so you want to be on the right side of the hole."
 
Guglielmo and Coffee are among a group of seven players tied for 17th after carding an even-par 72.  After shooting 4-over par on the front nine, sophomore Pablo Rodriguez-Tabernero Torres had a solid back nine, carding a 1-under par 35 for a 75 and tie for 40th.
 
Senior Teremoana Beaucousin rebounded from a tough start, shooting even par on the back nine, and turned in a 5-over par 77.
 
"We just need to stick to our game plan, and each morning taking some time to warm up well, and after the round work on what we didn't do well on the course," Fendt said. "If we keep doing those things and stick to our game plan, I think we will finish well."
 
The second round gets underway Tuesday at 9:20 a.m. (ET) with the Owls grouped with Clemson and Middle Tennessee. All the action can be followed live at www.golfstatresults.com.
 
Keep up with Owls men's golf by following KSU on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsMensGolf or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook.

   
 
 
 

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