March 26, 2017
AWENDAW, S.C. - All-SEC senior Matt Gilchrest and sophomore Trace Crowe are tied for seventh after the opening round of the Hootie at Bulls Bay, carding a 3-under 69 Sunday at the Bulls Bay Golf Course.
No. 20 Auburn is in fifth at 4-under 284, seven strokes behind leader Georgia State (11-under 277).
Gilchrest, a finalist for the Byron Nelson Award, carded four birdies on Nos. 2, 6, 10 and 13. Crowe tallied seven birdies on Nos. 2, 4, 7, 8 and 9 on the front and 10 and 12 on the back. The 69 is the sixth round in the 60s this season for the Bluffton, S.C., native.
Freshman Jovan Rebula and senior Ryan Benton are part of a 14-way tie for 21st at 1-under 71. Rebula, a native of George, South Africa, now has eight sub-par rounds this season. Benton, playing as an individual, carded his ninth sub-par round, tied for third-best on the team. The Dothan, Ala., native tallied four birdies for the day on Nos. 2, 4, 6 and 11.
Sophomore Jacob Solomon is tied for 62nd at 3-over 75 while senior Will Long is a shot back at 4-over 76 and t-71st.
South Carolina is in second at 9-under 279 followed by No. 2 Virginia (281), Ole Miss (283), Auburn, Purdue (284), Houston (286), Kentucky (287), NC State (287) and Missouri (287).
Richmond and Kansas are tied for 11th at 288 followed by College of Charleston (290), Charleston Southern (292) and Wisconsin (294).
Braden Thornberry of Ole Miss and South Carolina's Keenan Huskey share the lead at 6-under 66.
The Tigers tee-off the second round Monday at 8:00 am CT with Ole Miss and Purdue. Live scoring is available at Birdiefire.com.