Palm City, Fla. – Sophomore Presten Richardson carded a season-low round of 4-under par 68 on Super Bowl Sunday to sit amidst a five-way tie for third individually, pacing Western Carolina to a three-way tie atop the team leaderboard after 18 of the scheduled 54 holes at the Advance Golf Partners Collegiate at the Hammock Creek Golf Club.
Richardson carded a bogey-free round with 14 par and four birdies in Sunday’s opening 18 holes. He is two strokes ahead of senior Tumi Kúld, who was initially slated to play as an individual before an injury to classmate Louis Theys moved him into the scoring five. Kúld countered three bogeys with five birdies in the first round.
Freshman Kyle Kushnir sits in a tie for 25th overall with an even-par 72, balancing four bogeys with four birdies, with junior Magnus Pedersen in a tie for 47th at 2-over par 74. Rounding out WCU’s lineup was freshman Jake Peacock in a tie for 73rd after a 4-over par round of 76.
Playing unattached as individuals, junior Quinton Metz posted a 4-over par round of 76 to match teammate Peacock, while true freshman Kiefer Bulau is a stroke in arrears at 77, tied for 84th after carding a pair of birdies on the front nine to come home even over his final nine holes.
WCU sits tied with fellow SoCon foe Mercer and Creighton at 4-under par 284 to pace the 21-team field after the opening round. Another league team in Wofford is fourth, a stroke off the pace at 285 with Valparaiso 1-under at 287 in fifth.
Kamaren Cunningham of Murray State leads the 121-golfer field with a 6-under par 66 on Sunday, carrying a one-stroke lead over Garrett Giles of Iona into the second round.
The tournament’s second round gets underway Monday morning with live scoring available through GolfStat and a link on CatamountSports.com.
T1 – Western Carolina – 284 (-4)
T3 – Preseten Richardson – 68 (-4)
T12 – Tumi Kúld – 70 (-2)
T25 – Kyle Kushnir – 72 (E)
T47 – Magnus Pedersen – 74 (+2)
T73 – Jake Peacock – 76 (+4)
T73 – Quinton Metz (ind.) – 76 (+4)
T84 – Kiefer Bulau (ind.) – 77 (+5)