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ORLANDO, Fla. – A strong finish generated some momentum for George Mason heading into the second round of the Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Golf Championship.

The Patriots are tied for fifth place at 3-under 285 after the opening round of the A-10 Championship on Friday at the Grand Cypress Golf Club. Richmond and George Washington are tied for first at 15-under, three-time defending champ VCU is in third at 9-under, Dayton sits in fourth at 5-under and Mason is tied with Davidson at 3-under. The Patriots tee off the second round starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Junior Eric Edwards shot a 3-under 69 and is tied for ninth on the individual leaderboard heading into the second round of the three-day, 54-hole tournament. Fellow junior Ellis Messian is two strokes back at 1-under 71 and tied for 19th.

"Today's round was more of what could have been," George Mason coach Scott King said. "We struggled on the par-5's today, which is usually our strong suit. We just didn't take advantage of them. We grinded out a decent round and are still in it. It's going to take our best effort to get us in position for a final-day push on Sunday. We have it in us. We just have to get it done."

Mason's top four golfers combined for six birdies over their last five holes. The closing surge moved the Patriots out of 11th place at 2-over and up five strokes to finish the day at 3-under.

It was a strong finish and save for Mason, which started the tournament on fire.

Senior and reigning A-10 Golfer of the Week Kyle Hart birdied his first two holes and was at 2-under through five holes. Edwards was right there with him after playing five holes of bogey-free golf and recording birdies on holes No. 4 and No. 5, which included chipping in on the par-four fourth hole. On just his second hole of the day, Messian eagled the par-five, 514-yard hole. He then birdied the sixth hole as the Patriots actually sat atop the leaderboard at 6-under.

The next seven holes, however, proved troublesome. The team recorded just two birdies and had nine bogeys over holes No. 7 through No. 13. Dealing with hot and humid temperatures in the 90s, the Patriots regrouped and battled back.

Edwards shot 3-under on the back nine, sinking four birdies and playing bogey-free golf on his last eight holes. All-Conference after finishing third a year ago, he finished the day with a lengthy birdie putt on 18. After shooting 2-under on the front nine, Messian recovered from a couple bogeys on the back nine to birdie 17 and end the day with a 71.

Hart, who won medalist honors at the Navy Spring Invitational last weekend, was bogey-free over his final five holes. He finished the day at even-par 72 and in a tie for 28th. Junior Brock Kovach also closed out strong, shooting par or better over his last six holes, including a birdie on 17. He finished the day at 1-over 73 and in a tie for 33rd.

Freshman Davis Soderberg birdied two of his last four holes to shoot a 5-over 77 and finished the day tied for 48th.