NEED TO KNOW:
Piedmont Leader: T-2nd: Doug Gugel, 71 (-1)
As a Team: 2nd of 6th
Event Information: 6 teams; 30 golfers
The Course: Dalton Golf and Country Club (Dalton, Ga.); Par 72; 6,790 yards

DALTON, Ga. - Piedmont men's golf enjoyed a solid start to postseason play, with multiple par-or-better rounds in Monday's opening round of the CCS Championship in Dalton.

Freshman Doug Gugel fired a spring-best 1-under 71 while sophomore Adam Rogers delivered an even par 72 on the day.

 


As a team, the Lions find themselves in second place with a 5-over team score of 293 on day one. Piedmont sits just six strokes back of first-place Huntingdon, which finished at 1-under for the day.

Teeing off first, Gugel set the tone for the Lions, as he turned in even par, and after a bogey on the 10th, he caught fire on the back nine. Gugel made birdie on three consecutive hole, going 1-under on each of holes 13-15. The freshman had a birdie on a par-5, par-3 and par-4 during the stretch.

 

Touch of class from Doug Gugel at the par-5 13th and he taps in the birdie to get back to even par! pic.twitter.com/02aDFAoHvI

— Piedmont Golf (@GolfLions) April 29, 2024

 

Back. To. Back birdies

Gugel knocks down the flagstick at the par-3 and converts! pic.twitter.com/xf352cqv2x

— Piedmont Golf (@GolfLions) April 29, 2024

 

Another one!

It's three in a row for Doug and he moves to -2 and tied for the lead ???? pic.twitter.com/bj23yIXydb

— Piedmont Golf (@GolfLions) April 29, 2024

Even with a bogey at the last, it was good enough for Gugel to finish under par and sit just one shot back of the individual lead.

Rogers also played a solid round of golf, making two birdies and two bogeys in an uneventful day. He birdied the par-3 6th and then holed a long birdie putt on the par-4 8th.
 

 

?? BANG ??

Rogers rolls one in from long range at the 8th! pic.twitter.com/qAXBUndcZa

— Piedmont Golf (@GolfLions) April 29, 2024

Josh Hebrink closed strong, making birdie on each of his final two holes to card a 2-over 74. Hebrink nearly holed out for eagle on the par-4 18th and converted the short birdie putt to gain momentum going into Tuesday's second round.


 

Right at it!

Hebrink fires a dart at the last and will have a great look at birdie! pic.twitter.com/PHivrlHTWF

— Piedmont Golf (@GolfLions) April 29, 2024

Senior Eric Penland played his final two holes in 1-under par to come in with a 4-over 76, tied with Connor Lane, who played his final nine holes in 37 after going out in 39.

The Lions are nine shots clear of third-place Maryville going into the second round.

Piedmont will be paired with Huntingdon and Maryville again on Tuesday, with tee times off of No. 1 starting with Penland at 8:15 a.m. and concluding with Gugel at 8:51 a.m.

LIONS ON THE LEADERBOARD:
 

2	Piedmont University	(+5)	293
T2	Doug Gugel (5)	-1	71
T4	Adam Rogers (2)	E	72
T9	Josh Hebrink (1)	+2	74
T13	Connor Lane (3)	+4	76
T13	Eric Penland (4)	+4	76

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Gugel's 71 marks his first under par round of the spring.

ROUND 2 TEE TIMES:
Eric Penland - 8:15 a.m.
Connor Lane - 8:24 a.m.
Josh Hebrink - 8:33 a.m.
Adam Rogers - 8:42 a.m.
Doug Gugel - 8:51 a.m.

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