NEED TO KNOW:
Piedmont Leader: FRED ROBERTS IV - T9 (75-70) +1
As a Team: 3rd of 16
Event Information: 16 teams; 91 golfers
The Course: Tunica National (Par 72 - 7,077 yards)
TUNICA, Miss. - The No. 7 Piedmont men's golf team is in third place as it opened its fall 2021 season with the first two rounds of the Rhodes Fall Intercollegiate on Monday afternoon in Tunica, Mississippi.
After an up-and-down 298 in the first round, the Lions improved their second round total by six shots with a 292 to vault up the leaderboard into a tie for third with 18 holes remaining.
Junior
FRED ROBERTS IV led Piedmont and is in a tie for ninth thanks to a 2-under 70 in the second round that included five birdies.
Newcomer
MATTHEW ARIZA highlighted the second round, making a hole-in-one on the par-3 eighth hole in his first competitive day as a Lion.
The Lions began the day with a relatively consistent showing across the board, counting a 73, 74, 75 and 76. Sophomore
JOSH HEBRINK led the way in the first round, carding four birdies on his way to a 1-over 73. Fellow sophomore
ERIC PENLAND delivered an opening 2-over 74, the second straight fall season in which he has opened with that number. Playing in the No. 1 spot in the lineup, Roberts IV delivered a 3-over 75 that included three birdies while senior
MICHAEL CLARDY added a 4-over 76 with a pair of birdies.
Competing as an individual, newcomer
CONNOR HIXSON opened with three birdies and a 4-over 76 before improving to a 2-over 74 in the second round.
Penland was rock solid once again for Piedmont in the second round, carding an even par 72 that included a stretch where he made three birdies in four holes.
Clardy also improved in his second trip around Tunica National, delivering a 1-over 73 with 16 pars on his card.
Piedmont's 14-over team total is tied with Southwestern University, 11 shots behind leader Huntingdon. The Lions trail second-place Sewanee by seven strokes going into Tuesday's final round.
On the individual side, Roberts IV sits five shots behind leaders Will Hocker (Webster) and Pearce Lucus (Sewanee).
If they were to emerge victorious Tuesday, the Lions would have their third win in their last four tournaments.
LIONS ON THE LEADERBOARD:
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Roberts IV, a PING All-American last season, stepped into the No. 1 slot after the departure of
BEN BALEN and
MATTHEW LEEMANN and delivered an outstanding opening day, closing with a 2-under 70 in the second round. Over the two rounds, the Richmond Hill, Georgia native totaled eight birdies.
- Penland's 74-72 marks the best 36-hole beginning to an event in his career at Piedmont.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
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