GREENSBORO, N.C. – Following a frost delay that shortened the UNCG Bridgestone Collegiate to just 36 holes, Georgia State junior Damon Stephenson shot a 1-under 71 to lead the Panthers on Saturday at the Grandover Resort.
Stephenson is tied for fifth, three-strokes off the lead after making one birdie and 17 pars.
The Panthers shot an opening-round 304 and stand 12th entering Sunday's round.
“I would be lying if I didn't say I was disappointed in the way we played today,” head coach Joe Inman said. “I thought we could use the momentum we developed from winning our home tournament and keep it going this week, but it did not come out in the way we played our first round.
“The good thing is that we have another round tomorrow and can move a lot of spots up the leaderboard with some solid play. Damon Stephenson showed that a good score is possible on this course and we need to use that going into Sunday.”
Junior Davin White and freshman Nathan Mallonee each shot opening round 5-over 77s and are tied for 56th. White made two birdies and an eagle on the par-5 second hole, but unfortunately also made nine bogeys.
Mallonee made two birdies, but his round was derailed by a pair of double bogeys.
Coming off a second-place finish just over a week ago, senior Tyler Gruca shot an opening round 7-over 79, making his only birdie on his first hole of the day. He is tied for 69th entering the final round.
Sophomore Jonathan “J.J.” Grey shot a first-round 83 and stands tied for 78th.
Senior Victor Lavin, competing as an individual is tied for 36th following an opening round 3-over 75. Lavin made one birdie and four bogeys in his first round.
North Carolina opened play with an even par 288 to lead by two-strokes entering Sunday's final round. Host UNCG is second at 2-over, with No. 10 Virginia Tech and Chattanooga tied for third at 3-over. NC State is alone in fifth at 4-over.
North Carolina's Henry Do opened play with a 4-under 68 to lead UNCG's Carter Jenkins by one-stroke. Chattanooga's Chris Robb is third at 2-under, while Stephneson, NC State's James Chapman, Chattanooga's Ewan Scott and Washington State's San Lee are tied for fourth.
The 14-team field includes four teams ranked in the top-50 in the latest Golfweek rankings and all-but two of the teams are ranked in the top-100.
Georgia State leads No. 30 Iowa State by one-stroke and High Point by five.
Live scoring of Sunday's final round can be round at Golfstat.com.
Sunday's round will conclude the fall season for the Panthers. Georgia State will return to action at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate hosted by South Alabama, Feb. 17-18.
