ANDERSON, S.C. - Sophomore CJ Messana carded five birdies to help lead the Anderson men's golf team to third place following opening-round action Monday at the AU Invitational being played at the Anderson Country Club's par 71, 6,505 yard layout.
Flagler College (281) leads second-place Erskine (294) by 13 shots, while the Trojans (296) occupy third, just two strokes behind the Flying Fleet. Mars Hill (297) is lurking just a shot back and Pfeiffer carded a combined 298 for fifth place. Cape Fear Community College (300) was 16-over-par in sixth, with Tri-County Tech (301) in seventh and Spartanburg Methodist (309) and Paine College (320) in eighth and ninth
Flagler's Howard Schindler (67) holds a narrow one-shot advantage over Paine's Carlos Solis, who carded a 68. Four others are within four shots of the lead, with Anderson's Rob Warren firing a team-best 1-under-par 70 to pace the Trojan contingent and is tied for third.
Messana wrapped up the first day with a 3-over 74 and is tied for 14th, while junior Arran Setro (76) and junior Sean Shelton (76) are tied for 25th. Newcomer Payden Parrish posted a 77 and sits in a tie for 31st.
The tournament concludes on Tuesday with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
