Day One Results (PDF) | Saturday Tee Times (PDF)

* Mason opened the tournament with a combined score of 305, just five strokes off the lead
* The Patriots are t-5^th through 18 holes; Eric Edwards is t-4^th (73, +1)
* Brock Kovach is t-11^th (75, +3)
 
ORLANDO, Fla. – The George Mason University golf team sits just five shots off the lead after day one of competition at the Atlantic 10 Championship.
 
The Patriots shot a combined 305 (+17) Friday on the championship course, which combines the North and South tracks of the Grand Cypress Golf Club. The Patriots are currently tied for fifth place, although the leading teams of Davidson and Dayton are just a few strokes ahead at 300 (+12).
 
Mason placed two golfers in the top-20 after 18 holes and all five Patriots are in the top-36 of the individual standings.
 
"This is a really good golf course and set up," assistant coach Don Kelly said. "It's a three day championship and there's a lot of golf left to be played. I'm looking forward to the next two days with our guys."
 
Senior Eric Edwards is off to a great start in his final tournament for the Green & Gold. The Salisbury, N.C., native shot a one-over par 73 on Friday and is t-4^th, just two shots off the individual lead (-1). Edwards opened his round with a pair of birdies, and went out in 36. On his back nine, the senior made a birdie on the par-3 12^th, then made three-straight pars on one of the golf course's most difficult stretches. He's tied for fourth in par-5 scoring (-1) and seventh in par-3 aggregate (E).
 
Another senior saving his best for last is Brock Kovach. The Pennsylvania product is tied for 11^th after opening with a 75 (+3) on the difficult course. Kovach began his round by sticking his approach to three feet on the first to make birdie. Then, he bounced back from a bogey on the fourth with a nice birdie on the difficult seventh. Kovach sank an eight footer on the 16^th hole to record his third birdie of the day. He posted a 4.10 scoring average on the par 4s on Friday, good for t-7^th amongst the field.
 
Arguably the shot of the day also came from Kovach. He pulled his tee shot on the par-3 17^th way right and was faced with a lengthy chip out of the deep fescue for his second shot. Kovach played a beautiful bump and run and rolled his chip to within a foot of the hole, setting up a nice par to help wrap up his good round.
 
Sophomore Jeff Wilson also put together a solid, consistent day, making 11 pars en route to a 78 (+6). That's good for t-23^rd and sets him up for a solid weekend. Wilson made six pars on his front nine, then birdied the par-4 10^th. He also made four-straight pars on holes 11-14 to help put the Patriots in contention on day one.
 
Fellow sophomore Davis Soderberg made two birdies on his round and played the par-4s on the course at an impressive even par (t-2^nd amongst the field). He shot an opening round 79 and is t-30^th heading into Saturday.
 
Rounding out the Green & Gold roster, senior Ellis Messian shot an opening round 80 (+8) and is tied for 36^th place. Messian was +1 through 10 holes, but finished with a tough stretch in which he bogeyed six of the final eight holes. Look for the talented Messian to clean that up Saturday and make an impact moving forward this weekend.
 
The Patriots took advantage of scoring opportunities when they had them, ranking third in the field in birdies (10). Mason also put together a consistent effort throughout the day and was hurt by a couple tough holes. The Patriots played the par-5 11^th, which ranked as the eighth easiest hole on the course, at +4. Mason also was +5 on the difficult 18^th. With another day of experience on those two holes, the Patriots are poised to make a run on the weekend.
 
The tournament reseeds, and the Patriots enter Saturday's round in a tie for fifth. As such, the Green & Gold will tee off beginning at 9 a.m.