Sept. 14, 2009

FLORENCE, S.C. - The Samford men's golf team carded an opening-day total of 587 (296-291) on Monday as the Bulldogs opened their 2009-10 campaign at the 25th-annual Springhill Suites Intercollegiate hosted by Francis Marion University. Samford finished the opening 36 holes of play in 16th place.

Despite a lackluster performance Monday, the Bulldogs are only nine strokes out of 10th place. The third and final round of competition will be held Tuesday morning at the Country Club of South Carolina.

South Carolina-Aiken currently leads the Springhill Suites Intercollegiate with a two-round total of 560 (282-278). Samford's Southern Conference-foes Western Carolina (282-282=564), Georgia Southern (285-280=565) and Furman (290-279=569) finished the day ranked second-fourth, respectively.

The Bulldogs were led by three true freshmen Monday. Casey O'Toole paced the team with a 36-hole score of 145 (76-69), while Gabe Hyde followed with a 147 (75-72) and Bill Nabors added a two-round total of 148 (72-76). All three of the talented youngsters were competing in the first tournament of their collegiate careers.

Samford's O'Toole, a native of Oneonta, Ala., fired the team's best round of the day with a 69 in the final 18 holes of Monday's competition. Hyde and Nabors both posted scores of 72 on the opening day of the Springhill Suites Intercollegiate. Hyde tallied his season-best mark in the second round of play, while Nabors notched his during the opening 18 holes.

Senior Jeremy Cox carded a 36-hole score of 149 (75-74) and junior Martin Bunt added a 158 (74-84).

The final round of the 25th-annual Springhill Suites Intercollegiate will be held Tuesday at The Country Club of South Carolina's (par-72, 7,062 yards).