DURHAM, N.C. (Sept. 16, 2017) – The ETSU men’s golf team wrapped up day one of competition at the Rod Myers Invitational on Saturday afternoon from the Duke University Golf Club.

The Bucs carded a 36-hole score of 9-over-par 585 (288-297) and sit in ninth-place – featuring a field of six teams who played in the 2017 NCAA Regional and five of which ended last season ranked in the top-50 of the Golfstat Poll.

Sophomore Kevin Burns (Canton, Ga.) led the Blue and Gold on Saturday as he posted a 1-over-par 145 (71-74) and enters Sunday’s final round tied in 26^th. Burns finished with four birdies, 12 pars, one bogey and one double-bogey in the opening round. In second round play, Burns was four-over through his first 13 holes, but the Buccaneer sophomore played the final five holes at two-under to finish with the 74. 

Wake Forest – the two-time defending tournament champion – is the team leader after day one as the Demon Deacons fired an 18-under-par 558 (282-276) on Saturday. Wake Forest holds a six-shot lead over 2017 National Runner-Up Oregon and a seven-stroke advantage over Vanderbilt.

Oregon’s Norman Xiong is the individual leader after the first two rounds as he recorded an 11-under-par 133 (68-65) on Saturday. Xiong shot a 4-under 68 in round one, while finishing the day with a 7-under 65 en route to taking a three-shot lead over Wake Forest’s Will Zalatoris. Duke’s Chandler Eaton is in third at 6-under-par 138 (69-69).

Freshman Shiso Go (Kanagawa, Japan) is tied for 31^st at 2-over-par 145 (71-75). The Buccaneer freshman started off strong as he was tied for 11^th after recording a 1-under 71 in round one. Junior Geuntae Kim (Daegu, South Korea) and senior Cayman Ratliff (Kingsport, Tenn.) are tied for 37^th at 3-over-par 147. Kim posted rounds of 74-73 on day one, while Ratliff went 72-75. Freshman Austin Carter (Kingsport, Tenn.) – who is playing as an individual – is also tied for 37^th. Like Ratliff, Carter went 72-75 in his first two rounds.

The Bucs are paired with Liberty and East Carolina in Sunday’s final round. ETSU tees off from No. 10 starting at 9:05 a.m.

Live scoring will be provided via Golfstat, while a recap will be provided on ETSUBucs.com. 

For more information on ETSU men’s golf, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men’s golf link.