Sunset Beach, N.C. - Sophomore Sam Ryder (Longwood, Fla.) tied a 16-year old program single round record with a six under par 66 to stake the Stetson men's golf team to a five-stroke lead after the first round of the Sea Trail Intercollegiate, hosted by Elon University. The Hatters demolished the old school record for 18-hole team score with a 14 under par 274. Ryder has a one-stroke lead in the individual standings.
Stetson had gone seven under par at the Bethune-Cookman Invitational last fall in establishing the old mark, but went twice as low today in a tremendous team performance. Ryder became the first Hatter to shoot 66 since Dray Summers did so in a dual match against Amherst College at Southridge Golf Course in DeLand in March 1993. Senior Dave McAndrew (Barrington, R.I.) and redshirt freshman Micah Jacobsen (Fernandina Beach, Fla.) each shot three under par 69 and are tied for fifth place.
Junior Gabe Costa (Tequesta, Fla.) carded a two under par 70 to round out the sizzling scoring pack; he is tied for 11th place in the 88-golfer field. Junior Alex Jestings (Providence, R.I.) shot 81 and is tied for 85th place overall.
While Ryder has the lead after 18 holes, his 66 didn't provide him much cushion. Marshall Tinsley (George Mason) and Brian Colbert (Villanova) lurk just one stroke back at -5 with Wofford's Zach Capps at four under par. Jacobsen and McAndrew are in a tie for fifth place with four other golfers.
Stetson is five strokes clear of second place Wofford (-9) with James Madison in third place at eight under par. Defending Atlantic Sun Conference champions Campbell (-6) and George Mason (-2) round out the top five after the first round. Also competing this weekend are Appalachian State (-1), Jacksonville (-1), Villanova (-1), host Elon (+4), Guilford (+6), Belmont Abbey (+8), High Point (+8), Samford (+8), Murray State (+8), Longwood (+10) and Tennessee Tech (+10).
The tournament continues with Round 2 tomorrow and concludes on Sunday.
