The much-anticipated tournament debut for the Georgia Northwestern Technical College men’s golf is off to a very solid start.
Playing in the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)-Atlanta Fall Invitational at The Oaks Course in Covington, the Bobcats fired a team score of 4-over-par 288 in the first round of the 36-hole event and currently sits in a tie for third place with 18 holes remaining on Tuesday.
Freshman John Rollins (Trion) carded a 1-under-par 70 to pace the Bobcats.
He is currently in a tie for sixth place overall, while an even-under-par 71 from freshman Jordan Estes (Ringgold) was good enough to put him in a tie for eighth.
Freshman Chase Cole (Dade County) shot a 1-over-par 72, followed by sophomore Drew Tankersley (Murray County) with a 75 and freshman Lanier Guest (Gordon Lee) with a 76. Only the four lowest scores count toward the team score.
“We had a pretty good day today, but based on our practice round, it was kind of what I was expecting,” head coach Jared Willerson said. “You hate to say it with such a young team, but we left a few shots out there today. Everyone that played for us today hit the ball really well, but we had several putts that lipped out. We were playing on championship Bermuda greens and our guys are more used to bent (grass), but I’m still really proud of how they all played.”
Reinhardt University is nine shots clear of the field as they shot a 6-under-par score of 278. Bryan College (287) has a one-shot advantage over GNTC and Point University for second place. Faulkner (Ala.) is fifth (290), followed by the hosts (292) and Bluefield (Va.) (297).
Willerson said Rollins and Estes played exceptionally well in their first competitive round as collegiate golfers.
“They both kept it in play all day,” he said. “John played great. He hit a little rough patch on the back (nine), but answered with a birdie and Jordan came back from 2-over-par with birdies on Nos. 9, 10 and 11. He had a bad break on No. 18 and had to settle for a par, but he hit it well too.
“It’s hard to believe that most of these guys were playing in high school just a few months ago. They weren’t afraid and they didn’t back down at all. It’s really good to see them come out and compete right off the bat. Hopefully we can come out tomorrow, make up those 10 shots and get a win.”
The tournament is the first of three events the Bobcats will play in the fall season. They will travel to Sea Island next Monday and Tuesday to take part in the Coastal Georgia Fall Classic at the Davis Love III Course. They will conclude their fall campaign at the Coosa Country Club in Rome on Oct. 20 and 21 in the Berry College/Chick-fil-A Collegiate Invitational.