SAINT HELENA ISLAND, SC – The Elon University men’s golf team sits in fifth place after the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association Championship, as the Phoenix shot a 6-over par 294.
Elon trails leader and defending champion College of Charleston by 13 shots in the team competition, as the Cougars posted a 7-under par 281.
Elon struggled with par-5 scoring during the opening round. The team played the four par-5 holes at a combined score of 2-over par, including a five over score on the seventh hole. Head coach Don Hill said the team’s struggles on those holes today held them back from being higher up the leaderboard.
“It’s a razor thin margin, but that’s golf,” Hill said. “Hopefully we will bounce back tomorrow and claw our way into contention.”
Sophomore Garrett Risner shot a team-best round of 70 and is tied for seventh place on the individual leaderboard. Risner made four birdies and two bogeys in his round. Junior Bronson Myers posted an even-par round of 72 to finish in a tie for 12th place.
Freshman Juan Callejo Ropero made Elon’s only eagle of the day on the par-5 third hole, but he also made a double bogey on the front nine and finished with a 3-over par round of 75, which put him in a tie for 25th. Redshirt senior Will Frodigh opened his round with three consecutive birdies but made five bogeys and a double bogey to close out his front nine. He shot a round of 77 and is tied for 29th.
Freshman Matt Doyle birdied the first hole but made a triple bogey on the par-4 14th hole in his round of 79. He is tied for 38th.
Elon was also in fifth place following the first round of last year’s tournament, which was also played at the Dataw Island Golf Course. Elon’s tee times in the second round will begin at 9:42 a.m. tomorrow.