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Chase Walts backswing

Walts Tied for First After Opening Round in Florida

10/13/2024 11:43:00 PM

By: Matthew Shealy
SANDESTIN, Fla.  Competing for the third time this fall as a varsity squad, the No. 1–ranked Methodist men's golf team hit the links on Sunday for the first round of the Golfweek October Classic. Senior Chase Walts shot a round–low 65, tying with one other individual to earn the top spot on the individual leaderboard.

As a team, the Monarchs sit in a three–way tie for eighth out of 24 teams, currently boasting a score of 283 (–1).

JUST THE FACTS
Event: Golfweek October Classic
Course: Raven Golf Club (Par 71, 6,623 yds.)
Top teams: 1 – Sewanee (273; -11), 2 – Washington & Lee (274; -10), 3 – Oglethorpe (277; -7)
Top individuals: T1 – Chase Walts, Methodist (66; -5), T1 – Colin Edwards, Sewanee (66; -5), T3 – Nine individuals  (67; -4)
 
ROUND 1
  • Walts began the day with a birdie, then remained flawless through the front nine. At the turn, he recorded his second birdie of the day, then sank three more on Holes 14, 15 and 16. Through 18 holes, his card saw no blemishes.
  • Aiden Spampinato and Haden Ruby each completed the round at even par. Spampinato logged three bogeys and three birdies during the round. Two of his birdies came on Par 5s (Holes 3 and 11).
  • Ruby started hot with back–to–back birdies, then made his third of the round on Hole 6. Holes 11 through 14 posed a challenge for the senior as he carded two bogeys and an errant triple bogey, but he rebounded with birdies on 15 and 17 to finish the round strong.
  • Tied at four strokes over par, Jonny Lewis and Beau Brewer both faced similar struggles on Sunday. With two bogeys and a birdie, Lewis finished the front nine just one stroke over par, but a triple bogey on Hole 11 set him back further. He immediately responded with a birdie on the next hole, but then carded one final bogey before the end of the round.
  • With a bogey on Hole 4 but birdies on 6 and 7, Brewer looked to be headed towards an under–par finish on the front half, but a double bogey on the ninth hole dropped him to one–over par. He bogeyed 10 and 11 before settling in, making par on every remaining hole up until a final bogey on the 18th green.  
 
UP NEXT
The Monarchs are back in action on Monday, with Round 2 of the Golfweek tournament starting at 7:30 a.m.
 
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