JEKYLL ISLAND, GA – The University of Rochester golf team opened up its tournament at the Jekyll Island Invitational on Friday morning, shooting a team score of 296 (8-over) at the Pine Lakes Course at the Jekyll Island Golf Club.
 
This weekend's field is annually one of the best of the season in Division III, with 16 teams entered being ranked in the latest Division III top-25 coaches poll, including the top-7. Rochester is just on the outside looking in, being among others receiving votes in the poll, which was released Friday morning.
 
Overall, UR's round one score puts the Yellowjackets in a tie for 12th place in the 30-team field. 4th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan leads the tournament after Friday's round, carding a team score of 4-under, 284 on day one. UR's UAA rival Emory, ranked #5 in Division III, sits second at 288 (even-par).
 
Rochester's leading golfer was first-year Luke Evans who shot an even-par round of 72 on the 6,700-yard course layout at Pine Lakes. Evans recorded a team-high four birdies on his scorecard, including ending his round with back-to-back holes in red figures. Evans sits in a tie for 16th after day one.
 
First-year Alvin Su notched a solid round of 2-over, 74 on Friday. The rookie was consistent, shooting just 1-over on each nine, with his scorecard featuring three birdies. Su ranks tied for 49th in the field.
 
A pair of Yellowjackets shot 75's on day one, ranking in a tie for 61st place. First-year Eddie Ren had three bogeys and one birdie on his card, while sophomore Shibo Wang matched that score, but fired three birdies, compared to six bogeys on his day.
 
UR's starting five all shot rounds of 76 or better, with junior Josh Pethel being the fifth, and non-counting scorer on day one. Pethel started and ended his round with birdies on par-5 holes, completing his round in 76 strokes (4-over). He sits in a tie for 83rd among 150 total golfers.
 
The Yellowjackets take the course two more times this weekend, with 18-hole rounds being played on Saturday and Sunday.