MARVIN, N.C. --- Nick Forsberg fired a two-under 70 to spark the Tusculum College men's golf team to a team score of 295 and the first round lead at the 2015 South Atlantic Conference Championship.
The Pioneers hold a six shot advantage over Wingate University (301) and are seven shots in front of host Queens University of Charlotte (302). The 12-team tournament is being held at the par 72, 6,904-yard Firethorne Country Club.
Forsberg carded three birdies and a bogey in his first eight holes and proceeded to par his final 10 holes and lead the individual competition by two shots over defending SAC Championship medalist Benedict Gebhardt of Wingate, who posted an even par 72 on Monday. Forsberg was the runner-up at last year's conference championship held in Sevierville, Tennessee.
All-SAC first team junior Brad Hawkins shot 73 and is three shots behind Forsberg and tied for fourth place. Hawkins recorded two birdies and three bogeys in his opening nine to post a one-over par 37. He finished with nine straight pars to wrap up the first round.
TC sophomore Taylor Smith fired a 75 and is tied for seventh place, while senior Warren Cheney carded 77 and is tied for 22nd. Sophomore Chris Hutson rounds out the Tusculum scoring with 80 and is tied for 39th place.
Lincoln Memorial University is fourth with 305, while Coker College and Newberry College shot 308 and are tied for fifth place. Mars Hill University is seventh with 310, followed by Brevard College (314), Lenoir-Rhyne University (315), Catawba College (319), Anderson University (320) and Carson-Newman University (322).
The final round of the SAC Championship will be held on Tuesday with Tusculum's tee times beginning at 9:15 a.m. as the Pioneers will be playing alongside Wingate and Queens.
- TC -
2015 SAC Men's Golf
Championship
Firethorne Country Club - Marvin, N.C.
Par 72 - 6904 yards
Pl Team TOT
1 TUSCULUM 295
2 Wingate 301
3 Queens 302
4 Lincoln Memorial 305
5 Coker 308
Newberry 308
7 Mars Hill 310
8 Brevard 314
9 Lenoir-Rhyne 315
10 Catawba 319
11 Anderson 320
12 Carson-Newman
322
Tusculum Individual Scores
Pl Player TOT
1 Nick Forsberg 70
T4 Brad Hawkins 73
T7 Taylor Smith 75
T22 Warren Cheney 77
T39 Chris Hutson 80
