May 17, 2012
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The fourth-ranked Auburn men's golf team is in eighth after shooting an 8-over 296 in the NCAA Greensboro Regional first round at Grandover Resort East Course on Thursday. The Tigers are three shots behind fifth-place Texas Tech as the top five teams in the three-round, 54-hole tournament advance to the NCAA Championship.
All-American Blayne Barber and Freshman All-SEC Michael Johnsonare tied for 15th as each carded 1-over 73s to lead the Tigers. Barber endured three penalty strokes as he had four bogeys and three birdies and a 55-foot made putt for par over two hills on the green. Johnson was 2-under through 12 holes but had three bogeys the rest of the way.
All-SEC Niclas Carlssonis tied for 24th with a 74, but he was 2-under after 12 holes before hitting his second shot out of bounds on the par 5 13th en route to a double bogey that was followed by three consecutive birdies. The Enebyberg, Sweden, native finished with a birdie at the par-5 18th.
All-SEC Dominic Bozzelli and All-SEC Will McCurdyare tied for 39th with a pair of 76s. Bozzelli turned at 4-over after going bogey, bogey, double bogey on Nos. 7-9 but had nine straight pars on the back nine. McCurdy went bogey, double bogey and bogey on holes 9-11 before making birdie at No. 12 and then finishing out with all pars.
"It is a disappointing round for us," said Auburn head coach Nick Clinard. We are better than that, but we have two more rounds and we are still trying to win this golf tournament. We have to come out Friday and be positive and see what happens."
Sixth-seeded Liberty was the only team under par as it fired a 5-under 283 for a five shot lead over seventh-seeded SMU at 288. No. 11 UNLV is tied for third with Tulsa at 293 followed by Texas Tech in fifth at 294 and on the cutline.
Louisiana-Lafayette and Lamar are tied for sixth at 295, one shot ahead of Auburn, while Indiana is in ninth at 298 and No. 19 Florida in 10th at 299. No. 18 Duke is in 11th at 301 followed by Charlotte (303), Mount St. Mary's (311) and George Washington (312).
SMU's Matt Schovee is the individual leader after firing a 5-under 67 in a round that started with a bogey on the first hole and six birdies the rest of the round. SMU's Harry Higgs and Tulsa's John Young Kim are tied for second after a pair of 69s.
Auburn will tee off in Friday's second round off the No. 10 tee beginning at 7 am Central with Indiana and Lamar.
Live-scoring of the NCAA Regionals can be followed at www.golfstat.com