SEA ISLAND, Ga. — The 24th ranked LSU men’s golf team shot a first round 295 Friday to finish in a tie for eighth place after one day of play at the Southeastern Conference Championships in Sea Island, Ga.
The Tigers are tied for eighth with Kentucky at 15-over par. The nations’s top-ranked team, the Georgia Bulldogs, are leading the tournament with a score of 275. Georgia is 10 strokes ahead of second-place Florida, and 14 shots in front of third-place Tennessee. Ole Miss and Auburn round out the top five.
Georgia’s 275 is an 18-hole record at the SEC Championships. The score is two shots better than the 277 Florida posted in the first round in 1994.
The Bulldogs are attempting to win their third SEC Championship in four years. The Bulldogs won the title in 1998, and again last year.
Ole Miss’ Andrew Medley fired a 3-under par 67 to finish in a first-place tie with Georgia’s Brant Odom individually. David Miller of Georgia finished third, shooting a 2-under par 68. Sophomore John Humphries was the Tiger’s highest finisher Friday. Humphries finished in a five-way tie for sixth place, shooting an even-par 70.
Craig Taylor finished 22nd at 3-over par. Senior Alan Morgan shot a 75 to place 31st. Garrett Prather and Nathan Goulding tied for 40th place, each shooting a 77.
“We just played awful today,” said head coach Gerg Jones. “We just played real bad, and without any confidence.”
The Championships continue Saturday with the second round and conclude Sunday with final round play.The Tigers finished fifth in last season’s Championships held in Killen, Ala.
The Tigers will tee off at 7:50 a.m. Saturday. The Tigers are looking for their first SEC title since 1987.
TEAM SCORES
1. Georgia 275 -5; 2. Florida 285 +5; 3. Tennessee 289 +9; 4. Ole Miss 290 +10; 5. Auburn 291 +11; 6. South Carolina 292 +12; 7. Alabama 294 +14; t8. Kentucky 295 +15; t8. LSU 295 +15; 10. Vanderbilt 301 +21; 11. Mississippi State 304 +24;12. Arkansas 305 +25
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS
t1. Andrew Medley, Ole Miss, 67 -3; t1. Bryant Odom, Georgia, 67 -3; 3. David Miller, Georgia, 68 -2; t4. Andy Brimer, Tennessee, 69 -1; t4. Camilo Villegas, Florida, 69 -1.
LSU SCORES
t6. John Humphries 70 E
t22. Craig Taylor 73 +3
t31. Alan Morgan 75 +5
t40. Garrett Prather 77 +7
t40. Nathan Goulding 77 +7