FIRST ROUND RESULTS (PDF)

PALM CITY, Fla. -- The Samford Men's golf team kicked off the spring portion of its schedule on Sunday in the first round of the UNCG Martin Downs Collegiate at the Martin Downs Golf Club.
 
Samford Senior Aaron Walker is currently sitting in a tie for fifth individually as he led the team with a one-under-par 71. Walker started off the round hot with birdies on the par four second hole and the par five third hole. Walker then added on two more birdies on the par three 11^th hole and the par five 13^th hole.
 
When Head Coach Al DelGreco was asked about Walker's play, he noted how consistent his scores are for his team, "Aaron was again just steady Aaron. He did what he normally does and that's be an anchor for the team."
 
Samford Junior Harlan Winn also posted a solid round at even-par 72, putting him in a tie for 10^th individually. Winn battled back after two early bogeys on the second and third holes by birdieing the par three fourth hole, the par three 11^th hole, the par four 12^th hole and the par four 15^th hole. Even though Winn's round ended on a sour note after bogeying 17 and 18, he still finished the back nine at one under par.
 
After the round, DelGreco stressed the importance of good momentum they received from placing well in the last tournament of the spring schedule. DelGreco also mentioned that the team played well despite difficult course conditions, "If you think about our scores and the conditions we played in, I was really proud of how they played today."
 
Even though his team is in prime position after the first round, Coach DelGreco noted that the team did not preform well on par fives in the first round, "After looking at the stats I saw that we were number one as a team playing the par threes and number four as a team playing the par fours, but we were tied for last playing the par fives. We talked about that as a team after the round and I really think that it is mental. The guys get on the tee of a par five thinking that it is a birdie hole and are just too aggressive. Our biggest thought going into the second round is going to be how we play the par fives better."
 
Here is the rest of the results for the Bulldogs after the first round:
 
T5- Aaron Walker (-1)
T10- Harlan Winn (E)
T28- Alec Stopperich (+3)
T32- Jackson Seawell (+4)
T56- Austin Rains (+6)
 
Individuals
T80- Connor Reid (+11)
 
The top four scores gives the Bulldogs a first round 294 (+6) which is good enough for a tie for third with Chattanooga. The second of three rounds will begin for Samford on Monday morning, as they try to track down conference foes Mercer (-4) and UNCG (+5) who are currently sitting in front of them after the first round.