GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum men's golf team fired an opening day 285 to take the first round lead at the 24th annual Tusculum Invitational, which is being held this weekend at Link Hills Country Club.
The Pioneers have a five shot lead over second place Spartanburg Methodist (290) and are six shots clear of Brevard and Northwestern Ohio, who are tied for third place with 291.
There is a log-jam atop the leaderboard following the opening 18 holes with four players carding a one-under par 70 and share the first day lead. TC's David Whinery shot a three-under par 33 on his outward nine, before shooting 37 on his final nine holes. He shares the lead with Jake Corn of Spartanburg Methodist and the Northwestern Ohio duo of Kaleb Kuhn and Lewis Scott.
Six players are just one stroke off the leaders at even par 71, including Tusculum seniors Taylor Smith and Chris Hutson. Joining the Pioneer duo are Adam Lumley (Mars Hill), Tanner Nelson (Tennessee Wesleyan), Matthew Terry (Spartanburg Methodist) and Luis Vega (Brevard).
Mars Hill is fifth in the team competition with 296, while Tennessee Wesleyan is sixth at 297. Walters State is eight with 298, followed by Catawba (300), Emory & Henry (302), Brevard B (303), Northwestern Ohio B (306), Lincoln Memorial B (309), Union, Ky. (311), Bluefield St. (317), Cape Fear (318), Northwestern Ohio C (319), Virginia-Wise (322) and Tusculum B (335).
TC senior Preston Tucker is tied for 15th place with his 73, while rookie Anthony Bolden is tied for 19th place with his three-over par 74 to round out the scoring for the Pioneers.
Senior Cameron Dugger led the Tusculum B team with his 76 which is tied for 33rd place. Austin Murdock is tied for 77th with 82, followed by Hunter Chandley (85, T82) and Dylan Scalf (92, 90th) to complete the scoring for Tusculum B.
The final 18 holes will be played on Sunday beginning at 9 a.m. The Pioneers are the two-time defending champions of this event and are in quest of its ninth Tusculum Invitational crown.
