GREENSBORO, N.C.  No. 3 ranked Methodist University men's golf completed its opening round of the 2024 O'Briant-Jensen Memorial on Monday, with the Monarchs sitting in a tie for fourth after shooting ten-over par 294.

JUST THE FACTS
Event: 2024 O'Briant-Jensen Memorial
Course: The Cardinal by Pete Dye (Par 71, 6,778 yds.)
Top teams: 1 – Guilford College (289; +5), 2 – Carnegie Mellon University (291; +7), 3 – Averett University (293; -9)
Top individuals: 1 – Edward Coffren, University of Lynchburg (68; -1), T2 – David Zhang, Carnegie Mellon (69­; -2), T2 – Haden Ruby, Methodist (69; -2), T2 – Benjamin Afzelius, Averett (69; -2)
 
ROUND 1

• Just one stroke behind the individual leader, senior Haden Ruby is in a three-way tie for second following his opening round, scoring a two-under par 69. Two early birdies helped him stay one over when he reached the turn, but then, on the back half, he eagled the 10th hole and made another birdie.
• In a tie for 16th, sophomore Davis Linhardt shot a three-over par 74 in his first round. Along with his one birdie, he only had a few other blemishes throughout his time on the course.
• Senior Aiden Spampinato, who scored a four-over par 75, is in a tie for 23rd after round one. He made a double bogey and three bogeys, but two of those bogeys got canceled out with his pair of birdies.
• Chase Walts, a senior, finds himself in T-31st following an opening round that saw him post a five-over par 76. A couple of birdies through his first nine brought his score down to four over, but he added a stroke on the back nine after he counteracted his two late bogeys with one more birdie.
• It was a tough first round for senior Corbin Walker, who carded a ten-over par 81, as he finds himself in a tie for 68th. There was a five-hole stretch on the front half where he couldn't get his swing just right, resulting in an eight-over score. A better back half saw him make a bogey, a double bogey, and a birdie.    

UP NEXT
Methodist wraps up the tournament on Tuesday, with the second round.