The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
NCAA Championships
Thornberry Fires Opening Round 66 To Lead NCAA Championships
5/26/2017 | Men's Golf
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | DAY ONE RECAP VIDEO
SUGAR GROVE, Ill. - Ole Miss sophomore Braden Thornberry fired a 6-under par 66 to lead the field as Ole Miss finished in the top-10 through one round at the NCAA Golf Championships at Rich Harvest Farms Friday.
Thornberry, the fifth ranked player in the nation, shot a bogey-free round with six birdies at the 7,300-yard, par 72 track to jump out to an early lead. Thornberry's 66 keeps him at a pace to break the school record for stroke average in a season and extends his record for rounds in the 60s. The Rebel ace is also on track to break the school record for top-five and top 10 finishes in a season. Thornberry leads a field of 156 individuals including 65 top-100 players.
"I never got in in trouble today," said Thornberry on his round. "I was never really close to making too many bogies. I was hitting fairways, and if I did miss, I was lucky enough to get a few good lies. I tried to keep it in front of me and made some putts. I tried to make it an easy day."
"We are not as surprised that he played as well as he did," said Rebel head coach Chris Malloy. "Any time you see a 66 on this championship golf course, it will open up some eyes. It was another solid round. It was Braden being Braden. There is no reason not to believe that he will not have a few more solid rounds to come in with."
Ole Miss is tied for ninth through one round of play with a team score of 1-under par 287. Due to weather and darkness, the first round was shortened. First round play will resume at 6:30AM. The second round is scheduled to start at 7:15AM. Ole Miss has a tentative tee time of 12:35PM. No. 4 Vanderbilt currently leads the field at 8-under with three holes to go in the first round.
"It was a solid start for the first round," Malloy said. "I think the guys feel like they left a few strokes out there but I feel like the course does that to you. There is risk-reward out there, but that course does that to you. I think that is the nature of a championship course. I am pleased with where we are. I think any round under par on this golf course as a team is pretty good."
Junior Kerry Sweeney started his round with five pars and a birdie and rolled in another to finish 1-over par 73 on the day and tied for 62nd. Senior Ben Wolcott and sophomore Josh Seiple tallied three birdies a piece to start the NCAA Championships. Both are 2-over par and tied for 89th headed into the second round. Senior Noah West carded a birdie on the 380-yard, par 4 hole 14 and is 3-over.
Ole Miss needs a top-15 finish following the first three rounds to advance to a fourth round of stroke play. Nine individuals not on advancing teams will qualify to compete for the individual national championship, which will be awarded following the fourth round of play. The top eight teams following the fourth round of stroke play will advance to match play to determine a national champion.
The Rebels are scheduled to tee off the second round tomorrow at 12:35PM CST. For all Ole Miss Men's golf news and information, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMGolf, on Instagram at OleMissMGolf and on Facebook at facebook.com/OleMissMGolf. Fans can also follow head coach Chris Malloy on Twitter @CoachMalloy12.
OLE MISS INDIVIDUALS
1. Thornberry - 66
T62. Sweeney - 73
T89. Seiple - 74
T89. Wolcott - 74
T106. West - 75
TEAM LEADERBOARD
Teams with +/- scores to continue round one play
1. Vanderbilt - (-8)
2. Auburn - 282
3. Oklahoma State - (-5)
4. Southern California - (-4)
T5. UNLV - (-3)
T5. Illinois - (-3)
T5. LSU - (-3)
T5. Baylor - (-3)
T9. Ole Miss - 287
T9. Alabama - 287
T11. Oklahoma - (E)
T11. Oregon - (E)
T11. Kent State - (E)
T14. Texas - (+1)
T14. Florida State - 289
T14. Pepperdine - 289
T17. Stanford - (+2)
T17. Arizona State - 290
19. UCF - (+4)
T20. Iowa State - 293
T20. North Carolina - 293
22. Jacksonville - 294
23. Virginia - (+7)
T24. Kennesaw State - 297
T24. New Mexico - 297
T26. Duke - 298
T26. Purdue - 298
28. Lipscomb - 300
29. Penn State - 301
30. Clemson - (+16)
Players Mentioned
