Florida Gulf Coast University men's golf picked up right where it left off Tuesday, tying for fourth Friday after day one of the Schenkel Invitational in Statesboro, Georgia.
"We're really proud of our team," head coach Andrew Danna said. "We got off to a good start to the tournament and are looking forward to the opportunity to compete again tomorrow."
FGCU is tied alongside Notre Dame at five-under-par. The Eagles and the Fighting Irish opened the three-day tournament with a 283. Middle Tennessee State and No. 17 Florida are tied atop the leaderboard at 11-under-par, just six shots ahead of the Eagles.
The Eagles have positioned themselves two strokes ahead of No. 25 Mississippi State and tournament host Georgia Southern heading into Saturday's moving day action. FGCUÂ drained 20 combined birdies Friday, tying for the second most among the 14-team field.
Middle Tennessee's Owen Stamper and Wisconsin's Daniel Aas sit atop the player leaderboard at six-under, firing 66s.
Three Eagles signed under-par scorecards Friday. Brody Stevenson (-3) paced the FGCU starting five in the opening round with a three-under 69. Stevenson, who tied for sixth, produced back-to-back birdies on holes six and seven and then on holes 17 and 18. Three days ago at the Tiger Invitational, Stevenson tied for 18th in FGCU's runner-up performance.
Joseph Sullivan (-1) caught fire with three connective birdies on the back nine en route to a one-under 71, currently tying for 17th on the player leaderboard. Matt Millar (-1) is tied for 17th alongside teammate Sullivan heading into Saturday's second round. At even-par, Austin Cherichella (E) is tied for 36th behind his bogey-free back nine effort, sinking a tournament-leading 14 pars Friday.
The Eagles tee off round two Saturday beginning at 9:45 a.m. on hole one.
