Oct. 21, 2007
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Windermere, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Tournament host UCF, Oklahoma State and Southern Cal shared the lead after Sunday's first round of the Isleworth-UCF Collegiate Invitational presented by Ruth's Chris Steak House. The Knights, fifth-ranked Cowboys and ninth-ranked Trojans each shot respective scores of 284 (-4) and were among 12 teams that were able to complete their first rounds before a brief weather delay on Sunday at the Isleworth Golf and Country Club.
All three of the major collegiate golf polls had at least nine squads in this year's tournament field ranked in their respective top 25 polls prior to the three-round event.
The leading trio holds a one-stroke advantage on Wake Forest, who was one of six teams that had their opening rounds delayed for 40 minutes due to inclement weather. The 17th-ranked Demon Deacons carded a 285 (-3) and were led by Brendan Gielow, who birdied four of the last six holes to post a 69 (-3).
Fellow Atlantic Coast Conference members Florida State (286, -2) and Clemson (287, -1) were the only other squads in the 18-team field to post a score in red figures. The sixth-ranked Seminoles and Tigers were in fifth and sixth, respectively, in the team standings.
"We needed to get off to a strong start and I thought we were able to do that today," UCF head coach Nick Clinard said. "We definitely left a few shots out there coming in, but we'll work to fix that tomorrow. All in all, I'm pleased with our round and now we have some confidence and momentum going into the final two rounds."
There was a three-way tie to top the individual leaderboard after UCF junior Greg Forest, Southern Cal sophomore Jamie Lovemark and East Tennessee State freshman Rhys Enoch each carded a 68 (-4) on the par-72, 7,493-yard layout. All three golfers had six birdies and two bogeys during their respective rounds.
"I am very pleased (with my start)," Enoch said. "(This) is an amazing course out here and I was happy to play well. I like a long course. I hit it pretty long, so it is nice to have a course like this. It is a lovely layout."
Trailing the leaders is a pack of five golfers, who all fired a 69 (-3) in their opening 18 holes. Oklahoma State's Trent Leon was one of those golfers as he was the top Cowboy on the individual leaderboard. Fellow Cowboy Trent Whitekiller and Southern Cal's Tim Sluiter were among eight golfers that posted a first-round 70 (-2).
UCF freshman Jhared Hack birdied three of his last six holes coming in to post a 71 (-1) to help the hosts share the first-round lead. UCF junior David Johnson rallied to close his first round at even-par after opening play with a double-bogey.
Georgia Tech, the highest-ranked team at No. 3 in the field, is nine shots off the pace after a 293 (+5). The Yellow Jackets are in 13th-place, while defending team champion Texas is 15 shots behind the leaders after the Longhorns opened with a 299 (+11).
Round two of the Invitational is set for Monday with final round action scheduled for Tuesday. Rankings used in this release are from the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index.