Round One Results

SUGAR GROVE, Ill. – Sophomore Pablo Rodriguez-Tabernero Torres shot an even-par 72 to lead Kennesaw State during Friday's opening round of the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill.
 
Torres' play helped the Owls to a 9-over par 297 and has Kennesaw State currently tied for 24th in the 30-team field and ninth among the 15 teams from the morning wave who completed their rounds. Play was suspended late in the  day after the second wave of 15 endured a three hour rain was unable to fully complete the opening round. Those teams will be back on the course at 7:30 a.m. (ET) on Saturday and conclude their first round before moving directly in round two.

Friday's weather delay will push Kennesaw State's second round back a half hour with the Owls' first team time scheduled for 2:52 p.m. (ET). KSU will once again be grouped with Jacksonville and Purdue.

When play was suspended on Friday, Vanderbilt was currently in first place at 8-under par through 15 holes. The Commodores are two shots ahead of Auburn, which is the clubhouse leader after posting a 6-under par 282 and five shots ahead of Ole Miss and Alabama, who both recorded a 1-under 287 score.
 
"Overall it was a pretty good day, we just didn't finish well but I think our best golf is still ahead of us," head coach Bryant Odom said. "Chris  (Guglielmo) played  the last few holes pretty well so he has some momentum for tomorrow and Pablo had a good day after a hot start."
 
For Torres, a birdie on the opening hole built momentum as he parred No. 2 and then sank a putt on No. 3 for his second birdie in three holes and one of four on the front nine as he got to 4-under before a bogey on nine resulted in a front-nine score of 3-under 33. A 3-over par 39 on the back nine resulted in an even-par 72.
 
"I got off to a really hot start and got to 4-under through eight holes and was feeling really good about my swing and thought I played really well today," Torres said. "I hit really good shots and only hit a couple bad shots that cost me bogeys, but overall I am really happy. You cannot be mad with an even-par round. Even-par is always a good round and overall it was a good round and I'm excited about the next two rounds."
 
Sophomore Jake Fendt, who played with back soreness the entire round, turned in a solid performance, shooting under par through 16 holes before recording a double-bogey on the par-4 17th and finishing with a 1-over par 73. His round included five birdies, four bogeys, a double-bogey and eight pars.
 
Freshman Connor Coffee played well in his first NCAA Championships appearance, shooting a 3-over par 75. Double bogeys on the par-5 second hole and No. 18 prevent him from carding an under-par round.
 
Seniors Teremoana Beaucousin and Christopher Guglielmo both finished with 5-over par scores of 77.
 
"The greens weren't as fast as we thought they might be, so I think guys might have tentative in a few spots," Odom said. "Overall, there is a lot of pressure with it being a championship, but once you get into the round it is just like any other round.  I think they will be a little more comfortable tomorrow, knowing to expect.
 
"We need everyone playing well early and we didn't have everyone doing that today," Odom added. "There are some birdies hole out there and I don't think we did that today. Number 18 for instance, we played it at 3-over par and we need to be at least even or under par on that hole. Going forward we just need to take advantage of the more scoreable holes and execute the best we can."

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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