Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. - Stetson junior Sam Ryder (Longwood, Fla.) fired a three under par 69 in the first round at Mission Inn Resort's Las Colinas Course on Friday to take a one-stroke lead after 18 holes of the Mission Inn Fall Intercollegiate. The Stetson men's golf team carded a 12 over par 300 team score and sits in fourth place in the 12-team field, five strokes off the lead.
Ryder shot 32-37 on the front and back nines to finish the day one stroke ahead of Florida Atlantic's Michael Baskovich. Sophomore Micah Jacobsen (Fernandina Beach, Fla.) and senior Gabe Costa (Tequesta, Fla.) are tied for 17th at four over par 76 while junior Andrew Schiano (Orlando, Fla.) delivered the team's final counting score with a 79. Freshman Ed Waller (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) shot an 85 to round out the Hatter contingent.
Florida Atlantic leads the team standings at seven over par, four strokes ahead of Johnson & Wales and host school St. John's; Stetson is one shot behind the Wildcats and Red Storm at +12. USF (+13), Western Kentucky (+15), Ohio (+19), Savannah State (+20), Embry-Riddle (+24), Boston College (+24), Bethune-Cookman (+31) and Florida A&M (+56) are also competing this weekend.
Besides Ryder and Baskovich, three other golfers broke par and are tied for third at -1: Evan Beirne (St. John's), Devin Hernandez (USF) and Jordan Meltzer (Johnson & Wales). The tournament continues tomorrow and concludes on Sunday.
