The Eastern Kentucky University men’s golf team is in third place after the first day of the 2017 Ohio Valley Conference Championshipon Monday at The Shoals on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (-6) has a three shot lead over Jacksonville State (-3) after 18 holes. The Colonels are just four back after shooting an opening round 286 (-2). Four other teams are within 12 shots of the lead. Austin Peay (+1) is fourth, three shots behind Eastern Kentucky. Tennessee Tech (+3) is fifth. Morehead State (+5) is sixth and Tennessee-Martin (+6) is seventh.
The Colonels will begin the second round at 11:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday. The Fighting Joe Course at The Shoals has a par of 72 and is playing to 7,258 yards.
Noah Combs had two birdies, one bogey and six pars on the first nine holes. He then shot par on four straight to start the back nine. Two birdies over the final five holes moved the junior to 2-under (70) for the round. He is tied for fourth in a field of 55 players.
Will Sallee had two birdies on the first eight holes but back-to-back bogeys on No. 9 and 10 moved him to even-par. He finished strong with seven pars and a birdie on the final eight holes to finish with a 1-under round of 71. He is tied for seventh overall.
Erik Lindwall burned up the front nine with two birdies and seven pars to make the turn at 2-under. He mixed in two bogeys with seven more pars on the back nine to finish with an even-par round of 72. He sits in a tie for 12th overall.
Travis Rose was 1-under through nine after a birdie on the par-3 No. 5 hole. He had another birdie on the back nine, but a bogey and a double left the senior 1-over for the round (73). He is tied for 18th.
Jared Brown shot a first round 77 and is tied for 38th.
Murray State (+10) is eighth and Belmont (+17) is ninth. Tennessee State (+24) and Eastern Illinois (+34) round out the field of 11 teams.
Eastern Kentucky’s 12 championships are the most by any current OVC member. EKU has placed among the top four at the conference championship 36 times in the last 39 years. The Colonels last won the title in 2015.
- Eastern Kentucky 286 (-2)
T4. Noah Combs 35-35 – 70 (-2)
T7. Will Sallee 35-36 – 71 (-1)
T12. Erik Lindwall 34-38 – 72 (E)
T18. Travis Rose 35-38 – 73 (+1)
T38. Jared Brown 37-40 – 77 (+5)
Kevin Britton
Assistant Athletics Director for Communications & Branding