Sept. 24, 2010

SUNSET BEACH, N.C. - The Samford University men's golf team turned in its best round of the 2010 fall season Friday as the Bulldogs combined to shoot a 7-under-par 281 on the opening day of the Sea Trail Men's Intercollegiate being hosted by Elon University. With its performance, Samford sits in second place in the prestigious 12-team tournament.

Elon recorded a score of 275 and will enter Saturday's competition six strokes ahead of Samford. USC Upstate finished the round with a 284 to sit in third while George Mason (286) is fourth, and both Charleston Southern and High Point (288) are tied for fifth place.

The Bulldogs placed four players in the top 20 after the first round. Sophomore Gabe Hyde sits tied for fourth after posting a 4-under 68 while sophomore Casey O'Toole is tied for seventh place with a 3-under 69. Sophomores Drew Aimone and Bill Nabor finished the first round of play in a tie at 16th with an even-par 72.

McKenzie Oref of USC Upstate leads the Spartans after carding a 6-under 66 to sit in second place. Tyler Comer is tied for 16th after shooting par while Brad Sill and Will Graves sit in 23rd with a score of 73.

High Point's Chase Wilson and Charleston Southern's Jacobo Pastor are tied with Hyde in fourth place with a 68. Guilford's Mat Hennick sits tied with O'Toole in seventh place after carding a 69. Sam Ryder of Stetson, Delaware's Stephen Scialo, Appalachian State's Jay Brown and Branson Real of George Mason all posted a two-under 70 to tie for ninth place.

The Sea Trail Men's Intercollegiate will continue with the second round of play Saturday beginning at 7:30 a.m. (CDT).