The University of Mississippi Athletics
Sunday, October 25
Franklin, Tenn. | Vanderbilt Legends Club
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Vanderbilt Legends Collegiate
Gnam Goes Low in his Season Debut
10/25/2020 | Men's Golf
Ridgeland, Mississippi, Native Shoots 65 in Opening Round
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – In his first round of the fall season, Jack Gnam played his best 18 holes as a Rebel. The sophomore fired a career-low 65 (-6) to lead the Ole Miss men's golf team on day one of the Vanderbilt Legends Collegiate.
As a team, the Rebels sit in a tie for fifth place with an 8-under 276, just five shots behind tournament leader and host Vanderbilt (-13). Ole Miss led the field in birdies (27) during the opening round, including nine from freshman Veeti Mahonen.
"We did a very good job of battling back after a tough start. That was great to see," said head coach Chris Malloy. "This tournament is far from over, but it's great to see our guys put themselves in a great position going into the final two rounds."
Gnam made the fewest mistakes throughout the day, recording one bogey on his way to his career-best round. Starting on the back nine, he parred the first three holes before finding a birdie on the par-4 13th. After back-to-back pars, Gnam's putter caught fire with three straight birdies to make the turn at 4-under. The Ridgeland, Mississippi, native birdied the par-3 third and added his sixth birdie of the round at the par-5 fourth. He bogeyed No. 5 but countered with a birdie at No. 8 to get back to 6-under and help wrap up a low round. Individually, Gnam is tied for fourth just one shot off the lead.
"Jack had a huge round for us and really put us on his back," added Malloy. "He looked great from start to finish."
Mahonen used his nine birdies, which led the entire field, to shoot a 67 (-4). The Kirkkonummi, Finland, native bounced back after starting the tournament with three consecutive bogeys. A trio of birdies over a four-hole stretch got Mahonen back to even par as he made the turn. His final nine of the day featured six birdies, two bogeys and only one par. A bogey on No. 3 was sandwiched in between four birdies, and Mahonen ended his round with back-to-back birdies. His 67 matched his lowest round as a Rebel, putting the freshman in a tie for eighth.
Sophomores Jackson Suber and Sarut Vongchaisit fired rounds of 72 (+1). Suber's day featured four birdies, while Vongchaisit had three of his own.
Second round tee times for the Rebels begin at 9:50 a.m. CT Monday morning. Ole Miss is paired with Georgia (-9) and LSU (-8).
Get all the latest information on the team by following @OleMissMGolf on Twitter and OleMissMGolf on Instagram and Facebook.
THE REBELS
T4. Gnam: 65 (-6)
T8. Mahonen: 67 (-4)
T46. Suber: 72 (+1)
T46. Vongchaisit: 72 (+1)
T55. Schell: 73 (+2)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Vanderbilt: 271 (-13)
T2. Arkansas: 272 (-12)
T2. Texas A&M: 272 (-12)
4. Georgia: 275 (-9)
T5. Ole Miss: 276 (-8)
T5. LSU: 276 (-8)
T5. Tennessee: 276 (-8)
8. Florida: 277 (-7)
9. Auburn: 278 (-6)
10. Alabama: 279 (-5)
11. South Carolina: 280 (-4)
12. Missouri: 284 (E)
13. Kentucky: 285 (+1)
14. Mississippi State: 286 (+2)
As a team, the Rebels sit in a tie for fifth place with an 8-under 276, just five shots behind tournament leader and host Vanderbilt (-13). Ole Miss led the field in birdies (27) during the opening round, including nine from freshman Veeti Mahonen.
"We did a very good job of battling back after a tough start. That was great to see," said head coach Chris Malloy. "This tournament is far from over, but it's great to see our guys put themselves in a great position going into the final two rounds."
Gnam made the fewest mistakes throughout the day, recording one bogey on his way to his career-best round. Starting on the back nine, he parred the first three holes before finding a birdie on the par-4 13th. After back-to-back pars, Gnam's putter caught fire with three straight birdies to make the turn at 4-under. The Ridgeland, Mississippi, native birdied the par-3 third and added his sixth birdie of the round at the par-5 fourth. He bogeyed No. 5 but countered with a birdie at No. 8 to get back to 6-under and help wrap up a low round. Individually, Gnam is tied for fourth just one shot off the lead.
"Jack had a huge round for us and really put us on his back," added Malloy. "He looked great from start to finish."
Mahonen used his nine birdies, which led the entire field, to shoot a 67 (-4). The Kirkkonummi, Finland, native bounced back after starting the tournament with three consecutive bogeys. A trio of birdies over a four-hole stretch got Mahonen back to even par as he made the turn. His final nine of the day featured six birdies, two bogeys and only one par. A bogey on No. 3 was sandwiched in between four birdies, and Mahonen ended his round with back-to-back birdies. His 67 matched his lowest round as a Rebel, putting the freshman in a tie for eighth.
Sophomores Jackson Suber and Sarut Vongchaisit fired rounds of 72 (+1). Suber's day featured four birdies, while Vongchaisit had three of his own.
Second round tee times for the Rebels begin at 9:50 a.m. CT Monday morning. Ole Miss is paired with Georgia (-9) and LSU (-8).
Get all the latest information on the team by following @OleMissMGolf on Twitter and OleMissMGolf on Instagram and Facebook.
THE REBELS
T4. Gnam: 65 (-6)
T8. Mahonen: 67 (-4)
T46. Suber: 72 (+1)
T46. Vongchaisit: 72 (+1)
T55. Schell: 73 (+2)
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Vanderbilt: 271 (-13)
T2. Arkansas: 272 (-12)
T2. Texas A&M: 272 (-12)
4. Georgia: 275 (-9)
T5. Ole Miss: 276 (-8)
T5. LSU: 276 (-8)
T5. Tennessee: 276 (-8)
8. Florida: 277 (-7)
9. Auburn: 278 (-6)
10. Alabama: 279 (-5)
11. South Carolina: 280 (-4)
12. Missouri: 284 (E)
13. Kentucky: 285 (+1)
14. Mississippi State: 286 (+2)
Players Mentioned
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