PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga. – Guilford College’s Tanner Gross (Archdale, N.C./Home Schooled) and Ty Palmer (Kernersville, N.C./Forysth County Day) both shot even-par 72 in Saturday’s first round of the Callaway Gardens Intercollegiate at the Callaway Gardens – Mountain View Course. The pair helped the Quakers shoot five-over 293 as a team, good enough for first place in the 19-team field. LaGrange College holds second place at 297, one shot in front of Oglethorpe University.
Gross and Palmer are part of a five-way share of second place in the 102-student field. LaGrange’s Ryan Najiim carded a three-under 69 Saturday and holds the first-round lead. Top-ranked Anthony Maccaglia of Oglethorpe also shot 72.
A group of eight golfers shares 12th place after shooting 74. Quakers’ rookie Harrison Frye (High Point, N.C./High Point Central) is among the group. Guilford’s Drew Thompson recorded the Quakers’ fourth score with a 75 and is in a share of 20th place. Travis Tolbert shot 84 for the Quakers.
The Callaway Gardens Invitational features eight teams ranked among the top-25 teams in this week’s Bushnell Golfweek Division III Coaches’ Poll, including second-ranked Oglethorpe and fourth-ranked Methodist University. The Quakers are ranked 14th.
The 36-hole tournament, hosted by 19th-ranked Berry College, concludes Sunday.