JEKYLL ISLAND, GA – Competing in another stacked field during the early part of its spring schedule, the University of Rochester golf team took the course on Friday morning at the Jekyll Island Invitational in Georgia.
 
The Yellowjackets opened the 54-hole event at the Pink Lakes Course with a team score of 297 (9-over) for the first 18 holes.
 
That total has URochester, ranked #12 in the latest Division III Coaches poll, sitting tied for 22nd place in the 30-team field. The tournament is annually one of the toughest in Division III golf, with 15 teams currently ranked in the top-25, while nine others are among others receiving votes, just outside the top-25.
 
After the opening day, top-ranked Huntingdon and #8 Sewanee carded remarkable team scores, shooting a combined 271, equaling 17-under par, to hold the early lead. Less than half of the field ended up shooting under par during Friday's round.
 
Sophomore Alvin Su led the 'Jackets on Friday, carding a solid round of 69 (3-under). He opened his round with back-to-back birdies and later on fired three straight holes under par on the 10th, 11th and 12th holes. All in all, Su had six birdies on the round, coupled with three bogeys to reach his final tally. After one day, the sophomore sits tied for 15th place.
 
UR's second leading scorers on the day were sophomore Galen Fowles and first-year Anderson Palm. Both carded 3-over par rounds of 75 on Friday to rank in a tie for 85th place in the field. Fowles had a steady round with 15 pars and three bogeys, while Palm had two birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.
 
The final counting score in the opening round came from first-year Henry Zhong, who fired a first 18-hole score of 78 (6-over). This is Zhong's first career tournament in the 'Jacket lineup, as he previously competed as an individual during the Hampden-Sydney Invite at Foxfire during the team's spring break trip last week.
 
Junior Arjun Aujla was the final golfer in the URochester lineup, with Aujla finishing at 79 (7-over) for the day.
 
The Yellowjackets' round two tee time on Saturday will be at approximately noon, with the final round taking place on Sunday, with those tee times being based on team scores in the tournament through two rounds.