CHICAGO, Ill. - The Trevecca men's golf team finished round one at the Midwest Regional #1 on Monday (9/28) at the Harborside International Golf Center in first place overall in the 32-team field. The Trojans turned in a team score of 283, which is the second-best in school history. Payton Williams (SO/Clarksville, Tenn.) turned in a team-best 68, which ties him for the fourth best score in program history.
There are two courses that the teams will play on, with each team taking a turn on each course during the 36-hole event. There are at total of 32 teams participating in this regional.
Trevecca Director of Golf was pleased with Payton Williams and the entire team after round one, "I couldn't be happier for Payton Williams and his round today. He got off to a great start and played steady all day long. Payton is just beginning to realize his potential. As he keeps working, I expect more good things. We are excited to see what tomorrow bring for him and the team."
Head commented on Larken Whittemore (FR/Lafayette, TN) and his initial collegiate performance, "Larken showed a lot of guts today in his first college tournament round. He has quite a bit of previous tournament experience, but he came out and handled his nerves like a champ today. I expect big things from him during his time at Trevecca. Today was not a surprise."
The Port Course at Harborside International Golf Center will play to 6956 yards while the Starboard Course at Harborside International Golf Center is setup at 6928 yards. Half the teams are on each course each day. Both days are set tee times starting at holes 1 and 10.
Trevecca played the Port Course on Monday alongside members of the Walsh University and Hillsdale College golf teams. The number five threesomes began teeing off on hole #1 at 10:10 AM and the number one threesomes teed off at 10:50 AM.
On Tuesday Trevecca will play with members of the Davis & Elkins College and Rockhurst University begin at hole #10 on the Starboard Course at 8:30 AM. The final pairing of number one golfers in this grouping will tee off at 9:10 AM.
The four-under par 68 by Payton Williams is tied for fourth best in program history behind two rounds of 66 turned in by Joe Bradley during the 2011-2012 season and a 67 turned in by Stephen Williams the following year. Bradley carded his program best rounds, first in the third round at the Wasioto Winds Fall Kick-off and then in the second round of the Trevecca Invitational. Williams shot his third best round in the first round of the TSU Big Blue Intercollegiate. Current Trojan Aaron Burnett (SR/Joelton, Tenn.) also has a 68 to his credit along with Joey Bradley, who shot 68 on two different occasions, and former Trojan Skip Jones.
All of Trevecca's golfers scored well today. In his first collegiate round of golf freshmen Larken Whittemore finished with a one-under par 71. Spencer Scarbrough (JR/Crossville, Tenn.) and Logan Martin (SR/Greenbrier, Tenn.) each shot an even-par 72. Aaron Burnett shot a 75.
Jack Weller of Ferris State University leads all tournament participants with a six-under par 66.
The team score of 283 is only second to a 280 turned in by the 2011-2012 Trojans at the Trevecca Invitational. The next best is a 285 by the 2010-2011 team at the TranSouth Championships.
Trevecca leads Ferris State University (284) by one stroke and the University of Indianapolis (285) the University of Missouri – St. Louis (285) by two strokes.
Trevecca Participants
Place … Name … (Score)
2 … Payton Williams … (68)
17 … Larken Whittemorev(71)
27 … Logan Martin … (72)
27 … Spencer Scarbroughv(72)
61 … Aaron Burnett … (75)
Trevecca joins five other members of the Great Midwest Athletic conference playing in the event. The other five are Alderson Broaddus University, Davis & Elkins College, Cedarville University, Kentucky Wesleyan College, and Ohio Valley University. All six future G-MAC members are in the field. They are University of Findlay, Hillsdale College, Lake Erie College, Malone University, Ohio Dominican University , and Walsh University.
The remaining 20 teams entered are Rockhurst University, University of Southern Indiana, Quincy University, University of Missouri - St. Louis, Northwood University, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, UW-Parkside, Lewis University, Drury University, William Jewell University, Lake Superior State University, University of Northern Michigan, Maryville University - St. Louis, Saginaw Valley State University, McKendree University, Wayne State University, University of Illinois-Springfield, University of Indianapolis, Saint Joseph's College.