Luke Poulter shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 to own the individual lead as Florida is one shot off the team lead at 9-under through 18-holes.
STATESBORO, Ga. – Florida men’s golfer Luke Poulter owns the individual lead at 5-under through the opening round of the Schenkel Invitational on Friday. The No. 11/10 Gators are 9-under in second and one shot off the lead, held by host Georgia Southern.
Florida grabbed the top spot in the leaderboard behind a 9-under bogey-free stretch across holes 5-9 by all five in the lineup leading to a one-shot lead at the turn. The efforts began from Poulter who made his third eagle of the season on nine (par-5, 526 yards) en route to tying his career-best round of 67 for the third time. He finished bogey-free with three birdies in his last five holes for a one-shot lead.
A pair of upperclassmen in Ian Gilligan and Matthew Kress both recorded rounds of 3-under 69 to sit tied for 3rd. Gilligan also made his third eagle of the season coming on the par-5 seventh (549 yards). After his lone bogey on his third hole of the round, Kress finished bogey-free.
The final counting score in the lineup came from Jack Turner (T40) who had a 74 (+2) as Zack Swanwick’s (T59) 76 (+4) was the Gators’ non counting score.
Both Parker Sands (T14) and Rylan Shim (T59) are competing this weekend as individuals. Sands logged a 1-under 71 for his sixth round under-par in his last seven rounds. Shim shot an opening round of 76 (+4).
Round two continues tomorrow at Forest Heights Country Club with UF teeing off at 10:30 a.m. with the final 18-holes set for Sunday of the 45th annual event.
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