ETOWAH VALLEY, N.C. - Paced by junior David Wachter's even-par 72, the Anderson men's golf team is in sixth place following opening-round action of the Etowah Valley Intercollegiate, co-hosted by Brevard and Lincoln Memorial on Monday at the par-72, 6,892-yard Etowah Valley Country Club layout.
"David played very well," said Anderson head coach Danny Neal. "We are within striking distance of a couple of teams. Hopefully we can play well tomorrow and pass a couple of teams."
North Greenville leads the nine-team field after posting a two-over par 290 team score, with Belmont Abbey holding the second slot after carding a 10-over-par 298 total. Co-host Brevard (299)trails the Crusaders by one shot, with LMU (303), and Mars Hill (305) in fourth and fifth, respectively.
As a team, the Trojans carded 37 pars on the day, while posting 14 birdies - second-most of the nine teams in the tourney.
Wachter fired his lowest score of the early season by notching five birdies, including four on the back nine and is tied for fourth overall, while freshman Forrest Fowler carded an opening round 5-over-par 77 and shares the 20th spot. Fellow newcomer Alex Merriman is two strokes further back after posting his lowest round of the season and is in a five-way tie for 27th place following his 7-over-par 79 on Monday.
Sophomore Rob Warren posted a first-round 81 and is tied for 36th, while freshman Ryan Kincaid carded an 83 and is alone in 40th.
The two-day event is slated to conclude on Tuesday
