Alpharetta, Ga. - The Georgia State men's golf team opened play at the United States Collegiate with a first round 309 on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers were led by redshirt-junior Jared Cagle, who shot 74 in arguably the premier event in college golf.
The Panthers, making their fourth appearance in five years at the Golf Club of Georgia, struggled against the all-ranked field. Hosted by cross-town rival Georgia Tech and often called "the Masters of college golf," the USCC will continue with 18 holes on Monday and the final round on Tuesday.
Cagle got off to a rough start and was 4-over after six holes, but rebounded nicely with three birdies over the final 12 holes, shooting a 1-under 35 on the back nine to lead State. Cagle stands tied for 28th after the first round.
Walk-on freshman Tyler Gruca birdied three of the first four holes, but stumbled with six bogeys over the 10 holes to shot 76 and stands tied for 50th.
Senior Alan Fowler had a see-saw front nine, making three birdies, but also a double bogey and a triple bogey on his way to a first round 77. Fowler stands tied for 55th with 36 holes to play.
Senior Brent Paul and freshman Victor Lavin stand tied for 75th after each shooting opening round scores of 82. Paul was two-over after 10 holes, but stumbled down the stretch and shot 43 on the back nine.
Lavin birdied the first hole, but three double bogeys derailed his round, shooting 41 on each nine.
Freshman Ross McLister, competing as an individual, shot 80 and stands in a tie for 72nd. McLister birdied the first hole en route to a pair of 40's.
Host Georgia Tech, ranked 17th in the country, ran away from the field with a first round 17-under par, 271. The Yellow Jackets lead No. 16 Texas A&M by 13 strokes. No. 3 UCLA stands in third at 2-under, followed by Southern Cal in fourth at even par. No. 19 Virginia rounds out the top five at 1-over.
Georgia Tech's James White led the Yellow Jacket charge, firing an opening round 10-under, 62, to lead the field by seven strokes. In a five-way tie for second at 3-under par are Duke's Austin Cody, Tech's J.T. Griffin, Texas A&M's Jordan Russell and the duo of Jeffrey Kang and Steve Lim from Southern California.
The tournament typically brings future stars of the PGA Tour to The Golf Club of Georgia. Among the past participants are Rickie Fowler, who went from the 2009 USCC with Oklahoma State to the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup team; Nationwide Tour standouts Jamie Lovemark (Southern Cal), Chris Kirk (Georgia) and Roberto Castro (Georgia Tech); and Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) and Joel Sjoholm (Georgia State), who have earned victories playing as professionals in Europe.
The Panthers will return to the course on Monday morning beginning at 9:10 a.m. off the first tee. State will be paired with East Tennessee State and Wake Forest. Live scoring can be found at Golfstat.com.
Team Results
1. Georgia Tech - 271
2. Texas A&M - 284\
3. UCLA - 286
4. Southern Cal - 288
5. Virginia - 289
6. Cal - 291
7. Duke - 292
8. Kent State - 294
9. Florida State - 298
T10. East Tennessee State - 300
T10. Wake Forest - 300
12. Washington - 301
13. Clemson - 303
14. South Carolina - 306
15. Georgia State - 309
Individual Results
T28. Jared Cagle - 74
T50. Tyler Gruca - 76
T55. Alan Fowler - 77
T72. Ross McLister - 80*
T75. Brent Paul - 82
T75. Victor Lavin - 82
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