Playing in his first conference tournament, University of Mount Olive freshman John Thatch shot an even-par 72 and is tied for sixth place out of 40 golfers after the first round of the 2015 Conference Carolinas Men's Golf Championship Sunday at Bryan Park in Greensboro, N.C. The Trojans broke 300 as a team and are only nine shots out of second place, but had to settle for seventh place out of eight teams after the first round.
Thatch eagled the par-5 third hole, but gave up three shots to par and finished with a 1-over-par 37 on the front nine. He birdied the par-5 11th hole and recorded eight pars on the back nine for a 1-under-par 35. Thatch is only four shots out of the lead.
Nick Adams (34-41—75) and Sebastian Andersen (37-38—75) are tied for 22nd. Adams birdied the third hole and the par-4 eighth hole to make the turn at 2-under-par. Andersen birdied the par-4 ninth hole and the par-3 14th hole.
Jeff Villalobos (40-37—77) is tied for 32nd and Jesus Valderrama (35-44—79) is tied for 35th. Villalobos had two birdies each on the front nine and back nine, while Valderrama had a birdie and eight pars on the front nine.
The Trojans carded a team score of 299 to place four shots behind fifth-place Barton and three strokes behind sixth-place Pfeiffer. North Greenville sits atop the leaderboard with a 286, four shots ahead of second-place Erskine. Nick Stafford of Belmont Abbey tops the individual leaderboard with a 4-under-par 68.
The 54-hole tournament continues Monday with the second round. The tournament concludes Tuesday.