Prestonsburg, Ky. – After having nearly three weeks off from their last tournament, the Midway University men's golf team returned to the course today when they played the first round of the UPIKE Fall Invitational at StoneCrest Golf Course.

After the opening round, the Eagles sit in third place with a first round score of 304. They lead fellow River States Conference member Alice Lloyd (Ky.) – who sits in fourth place – by 14 stokes. The host, Pikeville (Ky.) is in second place as they lead Midway by five strokes.

Senior, Cole Ballard (Bardstown, Ky.) paced the Eagles in the first round at StoneCrest. After the first round, Ballard sits in a tie for fourth place after shooting a 2-over, 74. He trails the leader by four strokes heading into the final round on Monday. Ballard played consistent golf in the first round as he poured in 15 pars.

Sitting one shot behind Ballard in seventh place is Brandon Cambron (Louisville, Ky.). Cambron fired a 3-over, 75 in the opening round as he trails the leader by five strokes. Cambron came up with the third most birdies in the first round with three.

Up next in the scoring for the Eagles is senior, Granville Hayes (Lawrenceburg, Ky.). Hayes played his opening 18-holes at 5-over, 77, as he sits in a tie for 11th place.

Rounding out the scoring for Midway in the opening round was Justin Graham (Louisville, Ky.). Graham sits in a tie for 14th place after shooting a 6-over, 78 in the first round. Graham lit up the par 5's shooting 3-under on the respective holes as he collected one of the two eagles on the day.

Playing in his first tournament of the year was Austin Mitchell (Louisville, Ky.). Mitchell was solid in his first round of the year finishing with a 7-over, 79. He finished with three birdies in his round as he sits in 17th place heading into the final round on Monday.

The final three Eagles in action were Logan Medley (Lebanon, Ky.), NeShaun Gordon (Louisville, Ky.) and Andrew Chambers (Bardstown, Ky.). Medley and Gordon finished with an 81 and an 82, respectively, while Chambers shots a 90.

The Eagles will look to erase the five shot deficit when they return to StoneCrest tomorrow for the second round.

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