Men's Golf | 4/26/2019 5:14:00 PM
Daytona Beach, Fla. – The Robert Morris University men's golf team has jumped out to a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Northeast Conference (NEC) Championships, carding a 12-over 300 to grab its first opening-day advantage since the 2015 tournament.
Playing at the par-72, 6,801-yard LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., Robert Morris had four players shoot four-over 76 or under to carry a two-stroke gap into tomorrow's second round. Sacred Heart posted a 14-over 302, followed by Bryant (308, +20), Saint Francis U (314, +26), Wagner (314, +26), Mount St. Mary's (315, +27), Fairleigh Dickinson (316, +28), LIU Brooklyn (317, +29), and St. Francis Brooklyn (324, +36).
RESULTS: 2019 NEC Championships First Round
The Colonials paced the field in pars (60) and shared top honors in par-five scoring (4.95, -1). RMU also ranked second in par-four scoring (4.30, +15) and tied for second in par-three scoring (3.40, +8).
Max Palmer paced the Colonial contingent with a one-over 73, which was tied for the fourth lowest score of the day. The junior bogeyed the first holes on the front and back nines, but rebounded with a birdie on the par-five, 527-yard second hole and 15 pars. Palmer previously posted 75 and 74 in his last two NEC opening rounds, and finished in a tie for third at last year's event.
Kyle Grube matched his first-round tally from last year's NEC Championships, carding a three-over 75 to sit in a tie for eighth. Grube opened the day with a par and birdie, then tallied five more pars on the front nine. He added seven more pars on the back nine to give RMU its second player in the top 10.
Daniel Franco Saad and Chase Miller both posted a four-over 76 to share 11th with three other players. Franco Saad carded two birdies on the sixth and eighth holes, adding 11 pars. Miller also birdied the par-five, 509-yard eighth hole, coupling it with 12 pars – including five on the final six holes.
David Szymanski tallied a 10-over 82 with a birdie on the par-four, 393-yard 13th hole.
As mentioned, this is RMU's first opening day lead since the 2015 NEC Championships – a tournament it ultimately won by 14 strokes. The Colonials also held a two-stroke lead that year after the first 18, using that momentum to win their third conference title in program history.
Robert Morris tees off tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. for the second round of the NEC Championships.
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