The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Seminole Intercollegiate
Blazers In Seventh After Day One Of Seminole Intercollegiate
3/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
March 6, 2009
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Junior John Darby paced UAB with a one-under par 71 to lead the Blazers in the opening round of the 2009 Seminole Intercollegiate. As a team, UAB carded an eight-over par 296 and will enter Saturday's second round in a tie for seventh overall.
"We're in good shape right now," UAB head coach Alan Kaufman said. "Zack (Sucher) didn't play great and when that happens we tend to struggle. But John (Darby) stepped up and played terrific today. Overall, I think if we play well during the second round, we are going to be able to get back in the race and have a shot to win."
Darby matched his career-best 18-hole score thanks in large part to recording three birdies over his opening six holes. Darby will enter the second round four strokes back of co-leaders Joe David (Mississippi) and Ryan Haselden (Vanderbilt) who each shot a five-under par 67.
Junior Adam West will enter Saturday's round in a tie for 20th overall with a two-over par 74, while senior Kaylor Timmons is in a tie for 26th overall with a three-over 75. Senior Zack Sucher and redshirt freshman Blake Watts round out the Blazers in a tie for 37th with a four-over par 76.
Mississippi, ranked No. 25 in the nation, leads the field after carding an even-par 288 on the round. However, the Rebels lead is a slender one as nine strokes separates the top nine teams. Virginia is second with a one-over 289, while Vanderbilt is third with a 290. Tournament host and 22nd-ranked Florida State is tied for fourth with Mississippi State at four-over par 292 to round out the top five.
The second round of this year's event will begin Saturday morning with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. ET. All the action can be followed live by logging onto golfstat.com.
