Feb. 22, 2010

ALBEMARLE, N.C. -- The Navy golf team kicked off its spring season on Monday at the Old North State Club in Albemarle, N.C. where the Midshipmen stand seventh in the nine-team Johnny Palmer Invitational. Navy put together a first-round 37-over par 325, just a stroke out of fifth place and three strokes back from fourth.

The Old North State Club is one of the premier courses in the state of North Carolina and is the host site of the ACC Championship.

"The Old North State Club is one of the nicest courses in the state of North Carolina, but it's also known for being a tough course to master," said Navy head coach Pat Owen. "It's a challenging course by its own right, but to add in the rain today it really made the conditions difficult."

The Mids, who have yet to practice outdoors since the turn of the calendar year due to the snow, were led by junior Ben Hayes (Carmichael, Calif.), who carded a 7-over par 79 and is tied for 17th. Second-year standout Peter Reilly (Merrimack, N.H.) is tied for 24th with an 9-over par 81, while Rob Merkert (Severna Park, Md.) is a stroke back in 31st. Sophomore Tim Shield (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.) stands 39th with an 11-over par 83, while senior team captain Michael Harrigan (Moorestown, N.J.) struggled with the conditions and rounded out the scoring with a 15-over par 87.

Guilford College turned in a tournament-low 22-over par 310 and holds a 4-stroke advantage over Lenoir-Rhyne who stands second with a 26-over par 314. Lenoir-Rhyne's Jason Garrett was the lone player who was able to solve the soggy course, as he produced a 2-under par 70 and will head into the final round with a four stroke advantage over Post's David McGregor and Guilford's Noah Ratner.

The Mids will conclude action at the Johnny Palmer Invitational on Tuesday when they tee off at 8:00 am.