Austin Peay Governors Golf eight under par to lead OVC Tournament

APSU Sports: Austin Peay Men’s Golf

Dickson, TN – Sophomore Anthony Bradley shot six under par and Austin Peay State University men’s golf team holds a six-shot lead at the 2012 Ohio Valley Conference Men’s Golf Championships, played at Dickson’s GreyStone Golf Club.

“I told our guys they couldn’t win this tournament on the first day,” head coach Kirk Kayden said. “We needed to grind and I feel like we did a good job. Eight under par is a real good score today, but it’s going to be interesting. We’ve got some momentum and that’s a good thing.”

Austin Peay’s opening-round 280 stands as the second-lowest round of a terrific season, one shot behind the 279 carded in the final round of the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate. Jacksonville State (286) is the only other team under par, while UT Martin (290), Eastern Kentucky (291) and Murray State (293) make up the top five. Eastern Illinois (294), Morehead State (302), Tennessee State (305) and Tennessee Tech (305) round out the field.

Bradley’s 66, meanwhile, is the team’s season-best round. Junior Dustin Korte shot two under par (70) – aided by a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 18 – and sophomore Marco Iten shot one-under par (71). Freshman Tucker Wallace was the Govs fourth counter at one-over par (73) while sophomore Trey Tarpley finished with a 76.

After an uncharacteristic start, the Govs made their move on the back nine. As the early winds died down, Austin Peay managed to get things going after the turn. They played the front nine at one-over par and turned around to shoot two under on the final nine holes.

There was a noticeable difference in the scores from the front to the back. Bradley accounted for three of Austin Peay’s seven front-nine birdies, while the Govs doubled that number on the back nine. In fact, over the final three holes, the Govs played one-under par, including birdies on No. 17 by Bradley, Iten and Wallace along with a birdie on No. 18 by Korte.

“The final three holes are the signature holes on this course,” Kayden said. “To play that final stretch as well as we did really gives us some confidence. We had one hiccup, but also made some big shots there. We really seemed to settle in on the back nine.”

Now the Govs are tasked with maintaining the lead when second-round play begins, Friday. Austin Peay’s first tee time is set for 10:10am, with the next four coming in 10 minute intervals.

OVC Men’s Golf Tournament – Round 1

1	Team	Scores	Par
1	Austin Peay State	280	-8
2	Jacksonville State	286	-2
3	Tennessee – Martin	290	+2
4	Eastern Kentucky	291	+3
5	Murray State	293	+5
6	Eastern Illinois	294	+6
7	Morehead State	302	+14
T 8	Tennessee State	305	+17
T 8	Tennessee Tech	305	+17

 

Position	School – Players	Round 1	Total
1	Austin Peay State University	280	280
1	Anthony Bradley (1)	66	66
3	Dustin Korte (2)	70	70
T 4	Marco Iten (3)	71	71
T 13	Tucker Wallace (5)	73	73
T 30	Trey Tarpley (4)	76	76