Led by sophomore James Van Nice's low first round score of 76, the Covenant men's golf team has taken the clubhouse lead at the Piedmont Fall Invitational at The Orchard Golf Club in Clarkesville, Ga.
As a team, Covenant posted a 319 which is one stroke better than second place Piedmont and three strokes ahead of third place Bob Jones.
Battling a tough course on Monday, Van Nice managed to post the 76 which has him tied for first individually with five other golfers. The sophomore made clutch par putts on both his 17th and 18th holes of the day to stake a claim to the individual lead.
Scott McKnight shot a 79 as he birdied his 18th hole to rebound from a tough front nine. Freshman Alan Craig carded an 81 in his debut event as a collegiate golfer, while senior Nick Blauw had an 83.
Playing as an individual, freshman Nate Haney also posted an 83. Cameron Lewis rounded out the Covenant golfers with an 84.
Piedmont's William Jarrard and Andrew Long along with Bob Jones' Zeier Fleming and Truett-McConnell's Jordan Krippner and Drew Schmidt all posted 76s on day one to tie for the lead.
The second and final round of the Invitational begins at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.