No. 2 Auburn opens Seahawk Intercollegiate on top

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Grayson Belanger/Auburn Tigers

WILMINGTON, N.C. — It was a chilly, windy Suday on the links, but that didn't stop the Tigers from a top-tier showing in round one of the Seahawk Intercollegiate at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, North Carolina. No. 2 Auburn men's golf opened the tournament in first with a 12-over 300 first round. 

Freshman Jackson Koivun and junior Brendan Valdes each delivered top-five performances with a 72 (E) and 73 (+1), respectively. Redshirt juniors Carson Bacha and Ryan Eshleman shot 76 (+4) and 79 (+7). Senior J.M. Butler shot 80 (+8). 

For Auburn's "B" group, it was freshman Josiah Gilbert who found the low round with a 73 (+1) of his own. Fifth year Alex Vogelsong shot 75 (+3), sophomore Reed Lotter and freshman Cayden Pope both earned 77s (+5) and graduate student Hal Dove shot 86 (+14). 

Teams attempted to play a second round on Sunday, but it was called due to darkness with most teams having completed around 14 holes. Through an incomplete second round, Auburn sits at 7-over with an eight-shot lead over its nearest competitor. 

Everyone will pick up where they left off in another 7:30 a.m. CT shotgun start on Monday. Round two will be completed, followed directly by the final round.