MOC golf tied for seventh after Round 1

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 2, 2006 2:20 PM

• Print
• Email

CONCORD -- Wayne Christian School graduate Jonathan Greene shot 1-under-par on the back nine and is three shots out of the lead in the individual competition as Mount Olive is tied for seventh among Atlantic Region teams after first-round play in the 2006 NCAA Division II Men's Golf Atlantic/Southeast Super Regional Monday at Rocky River Golf Club.

Greene, a freshman from Goldsboro, is tied for seventh out of 45 golfers with a 1-over-par 38-35--73. Greene parred the first eight holes on the back nine, then put himself within 10 feet of an eagle on the 572-yard par-5 18th hole before finishing the round with a birdie.

"I wish I had gotten that eagle on 18, but getting a birdie is a good way to finish," said Greene, a left-handed golfer. "I felt pretty relaxed out there today."

"As a freshman, Jonathan has the least college experience of anyone on the team, but he came through with a great round," said head coach Chip Spiron. "He drove the ball extremely well today and gave himself some easy putts for par."

Chris Bitzenhofer is tied for 18th with a 38-39--77, while Mick Moberg is tied for 27th with a 41-38--79. Cameron Phillips, who also birdied the 18th hole, is tied for 39th with a 42-42--84. Josh Harward is 44th with a 45-41--86.

Mount Olive is making its first-ever team appearance in the NCAA II Men's Golf Championship. Prior to the regional, Spiron tried to get his players to treat the regional as just another tournament.

"I think there were some cases of nerves out on the course today," said Spiron. "I reminded the guys that they're having more fun out on the course than they would if they were back home taking finals."

Finals week is taking place at Mount Olive College and players had to make arrangements to complete finals, including working on exams at the hotel the night before the tournament.

Mount Olive carded a team score of 313 to finish first-round play in a tie with Limestone. Coker is first among the eight Atlantic Region teams with a 295. Two-time defending national champion USC-Aiken leads the eight Southeast Region teams with a 290.

Five teams from the Atlantic/Southeast Super Regional advance to the national finals: The Atlantic Region team and the Southeast Region team with the lowest three-round score, along with the next three lowest-scoring teams, regardless of region.

The Super Regional continues today with second-round play. The tournament concludes Wednesday.

"We didn't play as well today as we had hoped," said Spiron. "But I told the guys that there's still a lot of golf left. They just need to relax and play their game."