The Emory University men's golf team completed its first 18 holes at the NCAA Championships Tuesday afternoon as the Eagles competed at the Cobblestone Creek Country Club in Penfield, New York.
Through the first round of competition, Emory stands in the top half of the field in 13th place with a day one total of 300 (+12). The Eagles will head into the second round with 10 strokes separating the top 13 programs with Illinois Wesleyan leading the pack with a round one score of 290 (+2).
Carrying over the success of his April, sophomore Kevin Mu was Emory's top performer on Tuesday as Mu is in the overall hunt on the individual leaderboard as he entered the clubhouse with a three-under 69 and is just one stroke off the overall lead and in a tie for third place. Mu's opening round saw him record four birdies and 13 pars to pace the Eagles.
Senior Josh Qian was six shots off Mu's pace during day one as he carded a round one score of 75 to finish the day tied for 53rd. His round featured one of the day's highlights with an eagle on the par 4, hole nine to go along with one birdie and 10 pars.
The trio of seniors Tony Li, Michael Burry and junior Brian Hanson all finished the day with matching 78s to complete the Emory scorecard and in a tie for 119th on the leaderboard.
Burry recorded a team-leading 13 pars across the first round but his card also featured four bogeys as well as a double-bogey on the 11th hole. For Hanson, he equaled Mu with a total of 10 pars and added a pair of birdies on hole one and 11. He faltered a bit through the front nine before settling in to card a 37 on the back nine – the second-lowest of the five Eagles on the green. Li's round featured nine pars and two birdies mixed with six bogeys and one double-bogey.
The Eagles will look to secure their place ahead of the cut line as the second round gets underway with an 8:00 AM shotgun start on Wednesday.
