NEED TO KNOW:
Piedmont Leader: 3rd - Doug Gugel, 72-76 = 148 (+4)
As a Team: 1st of 7
Event Information: 7 teams; 35 golfers
The Course: Dalton Golf & Country Club in Dalton, Georgia (Par 72; 6,843 yards)

DALTON, Ga. - Piedmont men's golf sits atop the team leaderboard after the first two rounds of the CCS Championship were completed on Monday in Dalton, Georgia.

Originally scheduled to be 18 holes each day, Monday through Wednesday, the championship scheduled was adjusted two 36 holes Monday, followed by the final 18 holes on Tuesday due to impending inclement weather in the forecast.

In a day in which the course played difficult for everyone, the Lions weathered the storm the best, finishing at 27-over after two rounds, one stroke ahead of Huntingdon with 18 holes to play.

Junior Doug Gugel led the Lions on Monday, continuing to do strong work as always in Dalton, firing an even par round of 72 in the morning before carding a 4-over 76 n the afternoon. Gugel is just one shot behind Covenant's Drew Silman and Maryville's Jack Porter with 18 holes to play.


 


In Gugel's fantastic opening round, he made six total birdies to lead the team, including four on the front nine to help the Lions jump out to the early lead. 

As a team, the Lions were solid in support of Gugel, posting a 75 and two 77's as counting scores in the opening round. Jacob DeJesus fired a 3-over 75 in the first round, highlighted by making birdie on 3-of-4 par 5's.

Braden Kiley and Adam Rogers each posted 5-over 77's, with Rogers finishing strong with a birdie at the last. Remo Scholl had nothing worse than bogey on his card on the way to an opening 78.

Entering the afternoon's second round down by one on the team leaderboard to Huntingdon, Piedmont stayed consistent, carding a team score of 14-over in the second round after a 13-over first round mark. That second round score was four shots better than the Hawks, allowing the Lions to enter the final round with the slim lead.

DeJesus was rock solid again, this time with a 2-over 74 that included 13 pars. Kiley made a remarkable 15 pars on his way to a 3-over 75.

Gugel was once again the biggest threat to red numbers ,making a team-high four birdies in the second round, but ultimately fell back slightly with a 76.

Rogers made par on his first 10 holes of the second round before falling back with a second consecutive 77.

Scholl made three birdies in a four hole stretch early in his round, but posted a non-counting 81 in round two.

Up next, the Lions will look to take home a trophy for a third consecutive season, teeing off in the final round tomorrow, starting at 9:40 a.m.

LIONS ON THE LEADERBOARD:
3rd: Doug Gugel, 72-76 (+4)
T-4th: Jacob DeJesus, 75-74 (+5)
10th: Braden Kiley, 77-75 (+8)
T-12th: Adam Rogers, 77-77 (+10)
20th: Remo Scholl, 78-81 (+15)

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- Gugel's first round 72 marked his fourth career round at the CCS Championship (all at Dalton Country Club) at par or better.

HOW TO FOLLOW:
- To stay up to date on all information regarding Piedmont University Athletics, be sure to visit PiedmontLions.com and connect with the Green and Gold on social media. Follow the Lions on Twitter: @PiedmontLions, Instagram: @PiedmontLions, and Facebook. To follow each Piedmont athletic program on social media, use the Social Media Directory at PiedmontLions.com or click here.