Will DeMersseman opened the Chick-fil-A Invitational on Monday with a 75 to lead the Covenant men's golf team in the event at Stonebridge Golf Course in Rome.
As a team, Covenant sits in a tie for 15th after posting a 315 in the opening round. LaGrange leads the 19-team field with a 285 heading into Tuesday's final round, while Andrew Linkous of Walters State is the clubhouse leader at 5-under.
DeMersseman was steady throughout his round as he is tied for 27th individually after his 75.
The sophomore was 1-over on the front nine and then carded his lone birdie of the round on the par 5, fifth hole during his final nine holes of the day. It was the second straight round that DeMersseman had broken 75 after he shot a 74 in the second round of last week's Piedmont Fall Invitational.
Nathan Hawkins led the Scots with five birdies on the day, the second-most of any player in the field, and ended his round with a 76. Hawkins had three of his birdies in his final nine holes while going 1-over on the back and is tied for 33rd in the tournament. Crawford Collett also had a solid first round with a 79, which included back-to-back birdies on his seventh and eighth holes of the round.
John Livingston rounded out the Covenant scorers in the opening round with an 85, while Isaac Duncan wrapped up day one with an 88.
Covenant will conclude the tournament on Tuesday. John Livingston starts the Scots off as he tees off at 9:10 a.m.
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