Men's Golf Stands Fifth After One Day at Conference Championships

Sunday, April 23

Palm Harbor, Fla.

University of Memphis

American Athletic Conference Championship

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Men's Golf Stands Fifth After One Day at Conference Championships

Apr 23, 2017 | Men's Golf

Day 1 Results (.pdf)

INNISBROOK, Fla. - A hot start and a fiery finish helped lead the Memphis Tigers to a fifth-place standing after the first day of competition at the 2017 American Athletic Conference Championships.

"We got off to a nice start on the front, but lost a few shots on our back nine," said Memphis head coach Blake Smart. "I am really please to have two freshman leading the way for us, and confident everyone will clean things up and play a good round tomorrow."

Memphis 294 puts them at fifth in the field, just behind Cincinnati (291) and ahead of UConn (295), Temple (298), East Carolina (299), and SMU (301). USF leads the field after the first day with a 287 (+3).

Freshman Nick Giles was the top individual finisher for the Tigers on the 7,125-yard, par-71 Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course. He carded a one-over 72 on the day, which is tied for seventh in the field, while senior Sydney Chung and freshman Colin Dubnik finished with a two-over 73. After a slow start to the day JC Campbell was the teams fourth finisher and final scoring player with a five-over 76 which has him tied for 30th, while Kevin Lee had an up-and-down round, finishing at six strokes over par, which is tied for 34th.

Starting on the 10th hole, both Chung and Dubnik recorded birdies out of the gate; however, Campbell opened his round with a double bogey, as Memphis was one under par through the first hole. Kevin Lee answered a round-opening bogey with an eagle on the 575-yard par-five 11th hole, dropping his score to a stroke under par, with Memphis dropping to its lowest total of the day at -3.

The Tigers struggled in the middle portions of the round, before closing with fury, as the team's scoring four combined for a -3 score over the final three holes, turning a +13 Memphis score into +10 heading into the clubhouse after the round, and a secure standing of fifth place in the 10-team field.

The Tigers return to the course tomorrow morning, with the Tigers teeing off with Cincinnati and UConn. Lee goes off of the first tee at 7 a.m., Campbell at 7:10, Dubnik at 7:20, Chung at 7:30, and Giles at 7:40 - all from the first tee on the course.