MORGANTON, NC – Despite near perfect playing conditions on the open day of play at the Donald Ross Intercollegiate, the Stetson men's golf team struggled to find any consistency.
 
The Hatters opened the event, played at the par 70 Mimosa Hills Golf and Country Club, with a 13-over par 293. They followed up with a 10-over 290. Stetson stands ninth in the 10-team field, 21 shot behind High Point, which posted matching one-over par rounds of 281.
 
Stetson sophomore Baylor Payne was the only player for the Hatters who was happy with his play on the first day after posting consecutive rounds of one-over par 71.
 
"I was hitting the ball well off the tee so I put myself in good position on the fairways and putted fairly well," Payne said. "I was never really in trouble all day and was able to get up and down on most of the holes, even if I didn't get on the green."
 
Payne finished the day with seven birdies and seven bogeys, with one costly double on the par four 16^th hole in the second round. His two-over par score of 142 stands tied for 11^th in the field.
 
Pfeiffer University's Zach Weaver has a one-shot lead at the top of the field. He followed an even par 70 in the first round with a 66 in the second round to lead a group of five players who finished the first day of play under par. Payne will begin Tuesday's final round just six shots off the lead.
 
Sophomore Tyler Dierwechter had the best hole of the day when he eagled the par five 14^th hole in the second round. He finished that round with a three-over 73 with two birdies, five bogeys and one double bogey. He opened the day with a 74 and is tied for 27^th with a seven-over par score of 147.
 
Another sophomore, Tate Smith, turned in the low round of the day for Stetson with an even par round of 70 in the second round, but he struggled through an opening round 78 and is tied for 34^th overall with a 148.
 
"I just didn't have a good first round," Smith said. "I got it back in the second round. I didn't hit as many fairways as I needed and I couldn't catch a break in the first round. I was behind trees the entire round. I hit the ball better in the second round and got my confidence back. I hit the greens and was chipping well when I missed."
 
Sophomore Jared Nicolls, playing in his first event of the year, followed an opening round 73 with a 76 in the second round. He is tied for 40^th.
 
Freshman Chris Williard is tied for 47^th overall after posting scores of 75 and 77.
 
"It is not really a difficult course, I just didn't have my best stuff today," Williard said. "It was probably two of the worst rounds I have played this season. I have to learn from my mistakes and play better. I was hitting the ball left and couldn't control it. In the second round, I couldn't putt. It was just a bad day."
 
Stetson will open play in the final round on Tuesday on the 10^th hole. As a group, the Hatters are looking for a much better performance.
 
"We want to make a big move tomorrow," Smith said. "Hopefully Baylor can continue to play well and get us off to a better start."
 
Payne said tomorrow will be about playing the way the team knows it can.
 
"We all just need to play to our potential," Payne said. "Today was slow and we didn't get off on the right foot."
Live scoring will be available throughout the final round at GolfStat.com.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.