Spartans seventh after first round at Furman

GREENVILLE, S.C. – UNC Greensboro’s Will Bowman fired a 71 as an individual and Nathan Stamey’s even-par 72 helped the Spartans to a tie for seventh after Friday’s opening round at the Furman Intercollegiate.

Stamey, who struggled earlier this week at the Pinehurst Intercollegiate, came out on fire on Friday. He fired a 34 on the front nine, one shot off the best front side of the day. He slowed a little on the back to sit four shots off the lead entering Saturday’s second round.

Bowman, who played as an individual this week after finishing near the bottom of the field in Pinehurst on Tuesday, wowed the field on the back 9. He shot a 37 on the front side, but fired a 34 on the back – also one shot off the best back side score of the day – to sit three shots out of the lead.

As a team, UNCG is tied with Winthrop for seventh place, nine shots off the lead. Elon shot 287 in the opening round to take the early lead, one shot better than East Carolina and Charleston Southern. Each of those three teams have a player with a share of the individual lead after 18 holes. Charleston Southern’s Stuart Carrihill, East Carolina’s Andre Thorsen and Elon’s Justin Newton each recorded a 68 on Friday.

Saturday’s second round tee times begin at 8 am.

AGATE

TEAM SCORING: Elon 287, East Carolina 288, Charleston Southern 288, Jacksonville 291, Old Dominion 293, Rhode Island 294, UNC Greensboro 296, Winthrop 296, Virginia Tech 297, Iowa 299, Marshall 300, Furman 300, Maryland 300, UNC Wilmington 301, Samford 301, Francis Marion 301, Davidson 301, Wofford 303, Western Carolina 304, Appalachian State 307.

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

Top 10: T-1. Stuart Carrihill (Charleston Southern) 68; T-1. Andre Thorsen (East Carolina) 68; T-1. Justin Newton (Elon) 68; T-4. Duncan Stewart (Jacksonville) 69; T-4. Ryan Sypniewski (Virginia Tech) 69; T-6. Matt Cook (Western Carolina) 70; T-6. Jon Feldick (Iowa) 70; T-8. Ben Spitz (Rhode Island) 71; T-8. Robin Smith (East Carolina); T-8. Michael Saari (Davidson) 71; Matt Watson (Old Dominion) 71; T-8. Drew Perry (Wofford) 71; T-8. Jayson Judy (Elon) 71; T-8. Chris Gold (Maryland) 71; T-8. Will Bowman (UNCG) 71.

Other UNCG golfers: T-16. Nathan Stamey 72; T-23. David Heyen 73; T-33. J.D. Bass 74; T-72. Drew Younts 77; T-83. Nick Baker 78.

- UNCG -