By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The Tennessee Tech men's golf team opened up the spring with a strong first round of action at the Peoples Golf Championship Thursday afternoon, competing at Sea Palms Resort in St. Simons Island, Ga.

After their first trip around the links, the Golden Eagles were tied for seventh in the field of 22 teams, turning in a 4-over 288 to match the output of Bellarmine, Long Island, and Winthrop. Davidson took the top spot on the leaderboard, registering a 10-under 274 for a six-stroke lead. Wright State's Shane Ochs paced all individuals with a 6-under 65 on the par-71 course.

For the purple and gold, it was Jackson Skeen setting the tone on day one of the spring, tying for third among a whopping 128 golfers behind a 4-under 67. The junior racked up six birdies, including four on the back-nine alone. 

Senior Mark McDearman tied for 48th behind a score of 2-over 73, carding three birdies and 11 pars along the way. Fellow senior Sean Anderson represented one of two Golden Eagles to tie for 56th after the first day, tallying a 3-over 74 while accumulating three birdies and nine pars. 

Matching the effort with his own 74 was sophomore Anders Larson, piling up 14 pars and a birdie to also tie for 56th. Rounding out the lineup for the purple and gold, fellow sophomore Haden Maxwell ended his first taste of Sea Palms Resort with an 83. 

Round two of the Peoples Golf Championship will kick off at 7:00 a.m. CT Friday morning with split tee times. 

File photo by Emily Armstrong