Feb. 26, 2012
By Brandon Naidus
UCFAthletics.com
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The No. 17 UCF men's golf team continued its momentum from its last tournament with a strong opening round at the John Hayt Invitational on Sunday. After one round at the Sawgrass Country Club, the Knights are in first-place at 294 (+6). Sophomore Jose Joia (Lagoa, Portugal) led the Knights with a three-under 69. An eagle on the 11th hole was key to his three-under 33 on the back nine. Joia currently sits in fifth-place.
Senior Brad Schneider (Valrico, Fla.) also posted a strong opening round. Schneider fired a one-under 71. His five birdies were the most of any Knight on the day. He is currently in a three-way tie for sixth.
Sophomores Ricardo Gouveia (Almancil, Portugal) and Greg Eason (Leicester City, England) finished up strong. Gouveia recorded birdies on two of his final three holes, while Eason shot E (36) on the back nine thanks to three birdies.
Also showing great resolve was sophomore Kyle Wilshire (Georgetown, Ky.). After having difficulty on holes four and seven, he responded with a birdie on holes five and eight.
LSU's Sang Yi finished play atop the leaderboard with a five-under 67. Yi has a one-stroke lead over his closest competition and leads Joia by just two strokes.
With two rounds left, the Knights hold a one-stroke lead over second-place Tennessee and a two-stroke lead over third-place Coastal Carolina.
This is the second of five spring tournaments for the Knights.
John Hayt Invitational - Sunday's First Round - Par 72
Team Leaderboard
1) No. 17 UCF +6 (294)
2) Tennessee +7 (295)
3) Coastal Carolina +8 (296)
T4) North Texas + 10 (298)
T4) No. 23 LSU +10 (298)
Individual Leaderboard
1) Sang Yi (LSU) -5 (67)
T2) Julien Brun (TCU) -4 (68)
T2) Johan de Beer (TCU) -4 (68)
T2) Sebastian Soderberg (Coastal Carolina) -4 (68)
5) Jose Joia (UCF) -3 (69)
UCF's Golfers
5) Jose Joia -3 (69)
T6) Brad Schneider -1 (71)
T30) Ricardo Gouveia +4 (76)
T49) Kyle Wilshire +6 (78)
T57) Greg Eason +7 (79)