Gulf Coast third after first round at nationals
PLYMOUTH, Ind. – Mississippi's Gulf Coast's Grant Motter's hole-in-one was the highlight of the day for the Bulldogs in the first round of the NJCAA Division II Men's Gold Tournament.
Gulf Coast, which entered the event ranked third, is eight shots back of co-leaders Tyler and South Mountain in third place. The Bulldogs shot 3-over 291 Swan Lake Resort's Black Course.
"We played OK. We hung in there," Gulf Coast coach Tommy Snell said. "We had a tough back nine, but the guys hung in there. They could have gone south because they weren't making any putts."
The Bulldogs were led by Phillip Hickam's 1-under 71. He's in a six-way tie for seventh, seven back of Tyler's Marco Maldonado, who played the last eight holes at 8-under to lead the field with a 64.
"It was a grind on front. I started out missing fairways, scrambling to make pars," he said. "I started to getting into a little groove, but had a slipup on 11. After that, it was pretty solid golf."
Hickam, who finished tied for second with Motter at last year's national championship, birdied three of the last four holes to rally from his double bogey on 11.
Motter hit a 7-iron into the eighth hole, which was playing at 175 yards. The hole was hidden by a hill at the back of a sand trap, so the players couldn't tell if the shot had gone it.
When the golfers got to the green, there were only two balls visible and Motter reached in around the pin and pulled out his ace.
"I hit it right at it and got lucky and it went in," he said.
It was Motter's second hole-in-one. His first came during a junior club championship at Hattiesburg Country Club.
The hole-in-one was part of an adventurous front nine which also included two birdies, a bogey and two double-bogeys.
"I didn't play well today, but I hung in there the best I could," Motter said. "I took what it gave me today and hopefully tomorrow is a lot better."
George Kawell's short game saved him Tuesday. He eagled No. 5 and had two birdies on the way to a 72. He's tied for 13th.
"I didn't hit the ball well, but I putted really well," he said. "I just figured out ways to make par, and that's all that matters."
Freshman Colin Troxler had a problem on No. 12, where his ball was near a cart path. When he struck down to chip it, though, he found the ball rested on a covered part of the path, leading to double bogey.
"I didn't make anything outside of 3 feet all day," he said. "It was bad. I've just got to go out tomorrow and go low. I hit it well enough to shoot under par, but just didn't make any putts."
Troxler shot 75 and is tied for 37th. Freshman Jonathon Newman shot 77 and is tied for 49th.
Gulf Coast's first golfer tees off in the second round at 11:03 a.m. ET on Wednesday. The Bulldogs have an idea of what will be needed
"We could have played a little better, but we're right there in the hunt," Snell said. "Eight shots back in a team championship is nothing. We have to play well, put four good scores up there and play well. I feel confident they're going to do that tomorrow.
Tournament homepage: http://www.mccaa.org/f/17/3/Golf/2016_NJCAA_Division_II_Golf_National.php
