No. 2 Tide golf team takes early lead at John Hayt Invitational

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. | Defending its 2007 championship, the Top 3 ranked University of Alabama golf team got off to a positive start Sunday as it leads a field of 15 teams after one round of play at the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational.

The three-day tournament is being held at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Alabama, ranked No. 2 by Golf Week and No. 3 by Golf World, shot 2-over 290 in Sunday’s opening round to take a one stroke lead over Tennessee (291) which is coached by former Tide golfer Jim Kelson.

The team standings after one round find Alabama leading at 290, followed by Tennessee, 291, Pepperdine, 294, tied at fourth UCLA and Charlotte, 295, tied at sixth host North Florida, Georgia State and Florida, 296, at ninth South Carolina, 300, at 10th UAB, 301, tied at 11th Indiana and Vanderbilt, 302, and tied at 13th Central Florida, Notre Dame and Coastal Carolina, 306.

Georgia State’s Joel Sjoholm has a one-shot lead against two players, UCLA’s Jason Kang and North Florida’s Michael O’Neal, in the individual standings. He shot 69 which is 3-under par.

Alabama’s Joseph Sykora is two shots back and tied for fourth at 1-under 71. Two of his Tide teammates and fellow seniors Mark Harrell and Michael Thompson are among tie at 8th at even 72. Matt Hughes is tied at 32nd at 3-over 75, and Matthew Swan is tied at 43rd at 4-over, 76, to round out Alabama’s scoring.