Greensboro, N.C. - Georgia State opened with one of its top rounds of the fall and stands tied for sixth with 18 holes to play at the rain-shortened UNCG Bridgestone Golf Collegiate. Sophomore Tyler Gruca, coming off a career best finish is tied for ninth with 18 holes to play as the Panthers are just six strokes off the lead.
The 15-team field was originally scheduled to play 36 holes on Saturday, but due to poor weather conditions, the tournament was shortened to just 36 holes. The teams will conclude play at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Gruca, who was named CAA Golfer of the Week following a career-best tie for seventh at the inaugural AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic last week, shot an opening round 72 to stand just two strokes off the lead on Saturday.
"I am very happy with the way things started today," commented head coach Joe Inman. "We really played well the first 13 or 14 holes. We stumbled a little coming in, but I think our guys are starting to believe that they can compete with anyone in the country.
"Tyler once again played like a number one player today," continued Inman. "He and Clemens are giving us a great one-two punch entering the spring."
Dvorak stands tied for 16th following an opening round 73. Sophomores Grant Cagle and Sam Jandel are tied for 44th after opening round 76's. Jandel had the Panthers top round going before back-to-back double bogeys derailed his round on the back nine.
Freshman Davin White opened with a round of 77 to stand in a tie for 60th with 18 holes to play.
Sophomores Ross Mclister and Victor Lavin, playing as individuals are tied for 30th after each shot 75 in the opening round.
South Carolina leads after day one, shooting an opening round 3-over 291. The Gamecocks lead Virginia Tech and North Carolina by three strokes after the ACC schools each shot 6-over. Mississippi State stands alone in fourth at 7-over, followed by the host UNC Greensboro Spartans at 8-over. The Panthers are tied with Iowa State entering Sunday.
North Carolina's Patrick Barrett and NC State's Albin Choi are tied for the lead midway through after a pair of 2-under par 70's. There is a six-way tie for second at 1-under, followed by another seven golfers at even, including Gruca.
Live scoring of the entire tournament is available at Golfstat.com.
Following this weekend's tournament, the Panthers will head into the off-season until returning to the course for the JU Invitational on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass the last weekend of January.
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