The Coastal Carolina men’s golf team began play at the Hootie Intercollegiate on March 22, finishing the first round tied for fifth place with an 11-under-par score of 277 at Bulls Bay Golf Club in Awendaw, South Carolina.
This result places Coastal Carolina alongside No. 37 Clemson and behind College of Charleston, Kansas, South Carolina, and Purdue after the opening day on the par-72, 7,200-yard course. The tournament features a competitive field of fifteen teams.
Sophomore Drew Sykes led Coastal Carolina with a career-low-tying round of seven-under-par (65), putting him in a tie for second place individually after eighteen holes. Sykes’ performance included four birdies on the front nine and three more on the back nine. Harrison James contributed a three-under-par (69) to finish inside the top twenty individually. Jack Lee shot one-under (71), while freshman Santiago Schele finished even par (72). Senior Max Bengtsson completed his round with a two-over-par (74).
The team combined for eighteen birdies during their opening round and played especially well on par-five holes. These efforts helped position them within striking distance of the leaders as they move into subsequent rounds.
Coastal Carolina will continue its participation in the Hootie Intercollegiate with second-round play scheduled to begin Monday morning. The Chanticleers are paired with Purdue and Clemson for tee times starting at 9:00 a.m.
