Mercer University
Seminole Intercollegiate
Men's Golf Third at Seminole Intercollegiate
3/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Mercer junior Thomas Holmes shot a collegiate career-low 68 in Friday's opening round of the Seminole Intercollegiate to lead the Bears to a stellar opening round 281 (-3). As a team, the Bears were 5-under on the back nine and are in third place after day one at the Southwood Golf Course.
Mercer's day one total has the team just three strokes off the pace of tournament leaders No. 6 Georgia Tech and No. 28 Florida State (278). Entering Saturday's play, the Bears are two strokes ahead of both No. 48 Kennesaw State and Charlotte.
"The way this course is laid out, there are some opportunities for birdies," Mercer head coach Steve Bradley said. "We made those birdies and managed ourselves well around the hard holes today. But I was most impressed with how we finished off the round - it really shows what we are capable of."
Mercer's 281 was the program's best single-round total since also shooting 281 in the opening round of the Irish Creek Intercollegiate on April 3, 2010.
Holmes's 68 came on the strength of five birdies and has the Macon native tied for fourth on the individual leaderboard. His 68 equaled the effort from Jacksonville's Jamey Salmon and Georgia Tech's James White, who entered the tournament ranked as the nation's No. 12 golfer in the most recent Golfweek Collegiate Individual rankings.
"We are really happy for Thomas because he has been working really hard on his game," Bradley said. "He hit the ball well on the practice range yesterday and I feel like his strong play is going to continue."
Entering Saturday's second round, Holmes is just three strokes off the pace of Kennesaw State's Jeff Karlsson for the tournament lead.
Freshman Trey Rule and sophomore James Beale also fired sub-par rounds on Friday and are tied for 13th overall with 1-under 70's. Sophomore Hans Reimers carded a 73 and is tied for 42nd while junior John Gregory Joseph is tied for 52nd with a 74.
The second round of the Seminole Intercollegiate is set to tee off Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m.
