Tigers in the hunt after opening round at SEC Championship

Tigers in the hunt after opening round at SEC ChampionshipTigers in the hunt after opening round at SEC Championship

April 25, 2018

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. - The No. 9 Auburn men's golf team is tied for second after the opening round of the Southeastern Conference Championship at Sea Island Golf Club. The Tigers posted an even-par 280 in their first circuit of the par-70 Seaside Course.

Auburn trails No. 4 Vanderbilt by just four strokes and is level with Tennessee.

Junior Trace Crowe and freshman Brandon Mancheno are tied for third individually after posting rounds of 68 (-2) each. Crowe started strong with four birdies on the back nine, while Mancheno closed with three below-par holes on the front nine. The Tigers teed off on the 10th hole.

Freshman Wells Padgett carded 14 pars en route to an even-par 70. In his first tour of the course, Padgett knocked in a birdie on both the front and back nine.

Junior Ryan Knop and sophomore Jovan Rebula are tied for 44th and 61st, respectively. Knop ended his day with a 74 (+4), while Rebula shot a 76 (+6). Both golfers had most of their success on the back nine as they combined for four birdies.

Vanderbilt found itself in first after the opening round of stroke play with a 276 (-4). Auburn and Tennessee are next in the team standings with even-par 280 rounds apiece, followed by No. 11 LSU (+1), No. 6 Alabama (+3), No. 19 Kentucky (+6), Missouri (+7), South Carolina (+8), Ole Miss (+8), No. 16 Arkansas (+9), Georgia (+11), Mississippi State (+13), No. 7 Florida (+13) and No. 2 Texas A&M (+16).

The Tigers are paired with Tennessee and Vanderbilt for the second round of the SEC Championship. Tee time is set for 8:10 a.m. CT off the first tee box. Live scoring will be available at Golfstat.com.

Team Standings
1. Vanderbilt - 276 (-4)
T-2. Auburn - 280 (E)
T-2. Tennessee - 280 (E)
4. LSU - 281 (+1)
5. Alabama - 283 (+3)
6. Kentucky - 286 (+6)
7. Missouri - 287 (+7)
T-8. South Carolina - 288 (+8)
T-8. Ole Miss - 288 (+8)
10. Arkansas - 289 (+9)
11. Georgia - 291 (+11)
T-12. Mississippi State - 293 (+13)
T-12. Florida - 293 (+13)
14. Texas A&M - 296 (+16)

Auburn Individuals
T-3. Trace Crowe - 67 (-3)
T-3. Brandon Mancheno - 67 (-3)
T-11. Wells Padgett - 70 (E)
T-44. Ryan Knop - 74 (+4)
T-61. Jovan Rebula - 76 (+6)