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5/14/2009 - MEN'S GOLF
Bucs 8th, Camels 13th and Jones in 30th at NCAAs
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ETSU freshman Michael Stewart, the 2009 Atlantic Sun Conference individual champion, fired an opening round 1-over-par 73 to lead the Buccaneers to an eighth place team standing during first round action in the NCAA Central Regional hosted by Bowling Green University at The Club at Olde Stone.
Stewart finished six strokes off the pace set by first round leader Nick Taylor of Washington, who holds a two-stroke edge over Georgia Tech's Cameron Tringale. Taylor’s efforts also buoyed the Huskies team effort, as No. 6-ranked Washington finished the day atop the leaderboard at 6-under as a squad, 10 strokes better than seventh-ranked Georgia Tech and 19th-ranked UCLA, who are both tied for second place at 4-over.
As for the Bucs’ team effort, ETSU is in eighth place at 11-over as a team. Needing to finish the three-day event in the Top 5 to garner an invitation to the NCAA Championships, the Bucs are three strokes out of that position, trailing both Louisville and Mississippi, who are tied for fifth place at 8-over-par.
Zak Drescher is tied for 24th individually and Campbell sits 13th in the team standings after Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Southeast Regional men’s golf championship at RedTail Golf Club.
Despite sitting through a nearly four hour delay due to lightning, Drescher played the final 13 holes six-under par and sits at one-under-par 70 heading into Friday’s second round. After playing the first four holes five-over, Drescher scored eagle on the par-4 fifth and followed with three birdies during his next four holes.
Atlantic Sun Conference champion Campbell shot a nine-over 293 on the par-71, 7136-yard RedTail layout and is one stroke ahead of Indiana in the 14-school field. Host Central Florida shot a 16-under-par 268 and leads Arizona (270) by two strokes. South Carolina and Charlotte are tied for third at 11-under 273, while Florida State is fifth at minus-seven 277.
A spectacular finish to his opening round at the NCAA Southeast Regional lifted Bill Jones III to an even-par 71 and a share of 30th place at the RedTail Golf Club in Sorrento, Fla. Jones birdied three of his final four holes to cancel out a double-bogey at the par-four 13th: the only real blemish on a solid opening day for the Conyers, Ga. native.
After carding seven pars, a bogey and a birdie to make the turn at even-par 35, Jones struggled at the beginning of his back-nine. A bogey on the 10th and a six on the par-four 13th pushed him to three-over on the round. Following the weather delay, however, Jones calmed down and finished his round with style, birdieing the par-three 15th, and the par-four 16th and 18th.
To qualify for the NCAA Finals, Jones will need to be the top individual golfer not playing for one of the top five teams at the regional. That spot is currently occupied by Adam Mitchell of Georgia, who sits at three-under par: just three shots above Jones.
Follow Golfstat.com for live updates on the Buccaneers, Camels and Jones III.
