ALPHARETTA, GA. ?? University of Alabama sophomore Matthew Swan was one of only six golfers among a field of 78 who finished under par after the opening round of the United States Collegiate Championship. The three day, 54-hole tournament held at the par 72 Golf Club of Georgia began on Monday. It continues through Wednesday and features a powerful field where seven of the nation’s Top 10 teams are among the field of 15 teams. All 15 teams are ranked among college golf’s Top 30.
Swan, a three-time U.S. Amateur participant from Montgomery shot one under par, 71, the day’s second lowest score. He’s among a four-way tie for second, trailing co-leaders Tanner Ervin of Clemson and Georgia’s Chris Kirk who both opened at two under par, 70.
Tournament host Georgia Tech and tournament defending champions Clemson stand atop the team standings after one round. They’re tied at first at 292, four over par. Georgia and Wake Forest are next, tied at third at eight over par, 296. Georgia State, coached by former Crimson Tide golfer Matt Clark, and Oklahoma State are tied at 5th at 11 over, 299. Alabama is tied at 7th with UCLA at four over par, 299. East Tennessee is 9th (300), Southern California and Florida are tied at 10th (304), Texas is 12th (305), TCU is 13th (309) and tied at 14th are Brigham Young and Florida State (310).
Four other Tide golfers are competing for No. 3 ranked Alabama in addition to Swan. Michael Thompson is among a tie at 22nd. He’s two over par after shooting 74 in the opening round. He turned at two under par and was four under after the 11th hole but bogeyed 12 and triple-bogeyed 13, a par three. Mark Harrell is tied at 45th at five over par, 77. Among those he’s tied with is his teammate, Joseph Sykora, who also shot 77. And Gator Todd had a nightmare back nine. After parring his first six opening holes, he turned at one over par but double bogeyed 11, bogeyed 12 and 13, double bogeyed 14 and triple bogeyed 14 before parring 16 and 17 and birdying 18. He shot 81 and is among a tie at 67th. Todd is Alabama’s low stroke leader, averaging 71.79, ranking him among the top five in the Southeastern Conference, going into this tournament.
Second round play picks up Tuesday morning. Alabama has an 11:09 CT tee time Tuesday.
