NEED TO KNOW:
Piedmont Leader: T25: Braden Kiley, Adam Rogers; 70 (-2)
As a Team: 9th of 30
Event Information: 30 teams; 150 golfers
The Course: Jekyll Island GC - Pine Lakes in Jekyll Island, Ga. (Par 72; 6,730 yards)

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. - The No. 14 Piedmont men's golf team went low during Friday's opening round of the Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational at the Pine Lakes course at Jekyll Island Golf Club.

The Lions fired a 2-under par team score, their best of what has been a strong start to the spring season.

On a great day for scoring across the board, the Lions find themselves in ninth place on the team leaderboard after a pair of under par rounds and three rounds at par or better.

Braden Kiley returned to form, firing a 2-under par round of 70 that included seven birdies. Starting on hole 10, Kiley finished his round by making birdie on three of his final four holes.

 

Adam Rogers matched Kiley's 2-under round of 70, closing strong as well, with three birdies in a row to close out his round.

 


Jacob DeJesus delivered a strong even par round of 72, with three birdies and three bogeys on his card in a steady round.

Freshman Bradley Knowles was the final counting score for the Lions, posting a 2-over 74. Knowles was second to only Kiley with six birdies on his round, and bounced back strong after opening with an 8 on hole 10.

Doug Gugel's 5-over 77 gave the Lions five rounds in the 70's.

No. 6 Sewanee and No. 1 Huntingdon share the top spot on the team leaderboard after the first 18 of the 54 hole event. The Hawks' Cole Humphrey fired a 9-under 63 to lead on the individual side.

Up next, the Lions will have a morning tee time in the second round, with Knowles teeing it up at 8:40 a.m.

LIONS ON THE LEADERBOARD:
T-25th: Braden Kiley, 70 (-2)
T-25th: Adam Rogers, 70 (-2)
T-47th: Jacob DeJesus, 72 (E)
T-68th: Bradley Knowles, 74 (+2)
T-118th: Doug Gugel, 77 (+5)

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- The Lions put a lot of red on the board, making 24 birdies as a team in Friday's first round.
- Kiley delivered his fourth under par round of the spring, making seven birdies in a 2-under 70.
- Knowles played his final 18 holes in 2-under par to help the Lions post an under par team score.
- Rogers' opening round of 2-under 70 marks his fifth par-or-better round of the spring.

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