Nov. 7, 2005

TROY, Ala. ---- The Samford University men's golf team completed the first day of competition at the Troy University Invitational. The Bulldogs are in seventh place overall, but the story of the day was senior Ryan Mayberry, who sits in second place through two rounds of play.

Mayberry shot a combined seven-under-par 137 through 36 holes. The Memphis, Tenn., native shot a 69 in the first round of play and followed up with a 67 on the par 72 Lagoon Park Golf Course. Mayberry is just one stroke behind the individual leader, Jacksonville State's Daniel Willet, who shot a 136 (-8) on the day.

"I'm very happy about how he's played," said Samford head coach Woodie Eubanks. "He's played very well, and I'm very excited to see a senior step up and have the kind of day."

Overall, the Bulldogs are in seventh place in the 11-team tournament, shooting a combined 583 (+7). Jeremy Cox was the next best finisher from Samford. Cox, who is playing as an individual this week, shot a 141 (-3) to tie for ninth. Andrew Villarreal shot a 146 (+2) to tie for 22nd. Nathan Turner shot a 150 (+6) to tie for 41st and Bradley Pate shot a 151 (+7) to finish 45th on the day. Reed Davis rounded out the day for the Bulldogs, shooting a 156 to tie for 55th.

"I've seen some very good teams this fall in our conference, and we're going to have to do a lot of work this fall and winter to get ready for the spring. We keep digging ourselves into holes in the first day of a tournament, and we're pretty good at getting out of them, but we need to learn how to start a tournament a little bit better."

Ohio Valley Conference rival Jacksonville State is tied for first with Southern Miss. The teams each shot a combined 567 (-9). OVC rival Easter Kentucky is in third after shooting a 572 on the day (-4) and Tennessee Tech is in ninth after shooting 590 on the day (+14).

The two-day, 54-hole Troy Invitational continues Tuesday morning, with the final round of play.