April 23, 2012

Results

McKINNEY - Behind the strong play of senior Xavier Feyaerts, the Lamar University men's golf team has the first round lead at the Southland Conference Championship from Stonebridge Ranch Country Club.

Feyaerts fired a 3-under-par 69 on the par-72, 7,346-yard layout to grab the individual lead by one stroke on Stephen F. Austin's Mitchell McLeroy and Central Arkansas' Austen Moix. Round two in the 54-hole tournament will continue Tuesday morning.

The 2009 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year played a flawless first round, putting together three birdies and 15 pars. Feyaerts, who tied for 13th at last year's conference tournament, was the only golfer in the 50-player field to post a bogey-free round Monday.

As a team, the Cardinals finished with an even-par 288 total. Central Arkansas sits in second in the 10-team field at 291 (+3), followed by Texas State (296) and Stephen F. Austin (298). Defending champion UT Arlington and Southeastern Louisiana are tied for fifth at 299 (+11), with Sam Houston State (305), UTSA (307), Nicholls (311) and McNeese State (317) rounding out the field.

Lamar is looking for its 24th Southland Conference team title in men's golf, and first since 2009. UTA is the next closest to Lamar with four conference championships. The winner of this week's tournament will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals.

While Feyaerts is leading the Cardinals, senior M.J. Daffue and freshman Luke Jerling are tied for fourth after carding identical even-par 72s. Daffue, who won individual medalist honors last year at the conference tournament, made the turn at 2-under before suffering a pair of bogeys on his back nine.

Jerling, who is playing in his first conference tournament, finished his day with one birdie and one bogey. The South Africa native is coming off his first career win in Lamar's last tournament at the Wolfpack Spring Open, and carried his strong play into Monday's opening round.

Senior Kevin Hesbois, who tied Feyaerts for 13th last year, opened with a 3-over-par 75 and a tie for 17th place. Hesbois was at 1-over-par through 17, but carded a double bogey six on the par-4, 467-yard finishing hole.

Junior Eric Knudsen finished with an opening round 80 and is tied for 38th. While he did manage three birdies on the day, Knudsen also took two triple bogeys, a double bogey and four bogeys. Knudsen's score did not count toward Lamar's team total.

Knudsen will be the first Cardinal to tee off Tuesday morning; starting off the first tee at 9:20 a.m. Lamar will be paired with Central Arkansas for round two.

LAMAR