Gardner-Webb University
Big South Championship
Gardner-Webb Shoots Six Under In Friday's First Round, Sits In Third At 2017 Big South Men's Golf Championships
April 21, 2017 | Men's Golf
@GWUGolf | Live Scoring (GolfStat)
NINETY SIX, S.C. – Gardner-Webb shot its lowest round ever in a Big South Conference Championship tournament, firing a 282 (6-under) on Friday to move into third at the 2017 Big South Conference Men's Golf Championship.
The Runnin' Bulldogs sat at 9-under par and in the lead after six holes, combining to record nine birdies and an eagle in the early going.
Gardner-Webb finished the day in third, behind Campbell (273, 15-under) and Liberty (276, 11-under) with two rounds remaining.
Senior Vincent Blanchette carded a 69 to finish the day in a tie for fourth individually, using a quick start to power a consistent round. Blanchette birdied the first hole and followed suit on No. 3 and No. 5 – before shooting par over the final four holes of the front nine. He bogeyed the 12th and 16th on the back nine, but countered those holes with birdies on No. 14 and No. 18 to finish the day at 3-under par – just two strokes out of the lead.
Aaron Thomas wasn't far behind, also finishing his front nine at 3-under par and shooting a 70 on the day to finish in a tie for eighth. Thomas shot par on the morning's first two holes, then sank a birdie putt on hole No. 3 before recording an eagle on the fifth hole. He recorded pars on the next eight holes, before bogeys on No. 14 and No. 16 slowed his momentum.
Thomas ended the day on a high note, however, posting a birdie on the 18th.
Jonathan Henry finished the round in a tie for 14th individually, shooting a 71 to finish one under par. Henry joined his teammates in the hot start, carding birdies on the third and fifth holes, before heading into the turn at even par after a pair of bogeys. He picked up one stroke on the 12th hole, recording his third birdie of the day.
Chris Jones and Steffen Smith finished tied for 17th. Jones had a bogey on the first hole of his day, but quickly got that stroke back with a birdie on the second. He also birdied hole No. 4 and finished the front nine at 1-under par. Jones moved to 2-under after a birdie on the 13th, but a double bogey pushed him back to even par. He recovered with a birdie on the 18th to finish at even par for the round.
Smith had a consistent round, posting a birdie and bogey on the front nine and the back. He picked up his birdies on the sixth and 18th holes.
Blanchette's five birdies ranked third in the tournament. Thomas' eagle was one of only six recorded on Friday.
Gardner-Webb, Campbell and Liberty were the only three teams to finish the day under par.
That trio of teams will be paired up on Saturday morning when the second round begins on the first hole. Gardner-Webb's tee times are: Steffen Smith (9:40); Jonathan Henry (9:50); Aaron Thomas (10:00); Chris Jones (10:10) and Vincent Blanchette (10:20).
