March 10, 2008

Palmetto Intercollegiate - Day One Results

AIKEN, S.C. - Marshall University sophomore golfer Christian Brand is in a five-way tie for 12th place after 36 holes at the 15-team, 84-player Cleveland Gold Palmetto Intercollegiate, hosted by USC-Aiken. As a team, the Thundering Herd is in 12th place.

Brand recorded rounds of 75 and 71 at the par-70, 6,565-yard Palmetto Golf Club. He ranked second in par-3 scoring (-1, 2.88) and registered 23 pars. Brand (146) is five strokes behind co-leaders Jurrian vander Vaart of Virginia Tech and UT-Chattanooga's J.T. Clendenin (141).

MU junior Nathan Kinker also tallied two rounds in the 70s, shaving five strokes off his opening-round 79 for a 4-over 74 in the afternoon. Kinker (153) is in a tie for 40th place. Herd freshman Bennett Boyer made his collegiate debut with rounds of 76 and 82 for a 59th place tie on day one.

UT-Chattanooga leads the team standings with a 568, 16 strokes ahead of second-place Virginia Tech. The Herd (617) is just eight strokes from the top-10 heading into Tuesday's final round, which begins at 9 a.m.

Marshall (36-hole total): 617 (314-303)

Marshall Team Score (36-hole total): Christian Brand 146 (75-71), Nathan Kinker 153 (79-74), Bennett Boyer 158 (76-82), Jonathan Pepe 161 (84-77), Trent Schambach 168 (87-81)