MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala.  Methodist University men's golf, the number one ranked team in Division III, find itself in second place following the first round of the Shoals Intercollegiate as the Monarchs shot one-over 289.
 
Individually, the trio of Aiden Spampinato, Chase Walts, and Caleb Ryan are all tied for second place as well, after each shot three-under 69.  

JUST THE FACTS
Event: Shoals Intercollegiate
Course: Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals (Par 72 – 7,165 yards)
Top teams: 1 – Carnegie Mellon (Pa.) University (285; -3), 2 – Methodist (289; +1), 3 – Bethel (Minn.) University (299; +11)
Top individuals: 1 – Brian Xu, Carnegie Mellon (68; -4), 2 – Four Players Tied (69; -3)
 
OPENING ROUND

• Through his first six holes, Spampinato was one-over but then he made four birdies during his last 12 holes.
• Walts started off strong with three straight birdies before making a bogey and his fourth birdie, of the day, to finish out the back half. On the front half, he made a pair of bogeys & birdies.
• Ryan is playing as an individual, and will not count toward Methodist's team score. After going two-under, three birdies and one bogey, through his first nine holes, Ryan birdied holes 12 & 14 before he recorded a bogey on his second to last hole of the round.
• Just outside the top-10, at T-11, is Cooper Hrabak, who shot a two-over 74 on day one. Following back-to-back bogeys to begin his round, Hrabak made his first birdie on his third hole but that would be canceled out with another bogey three holes later. The only other marks on his scorecard would an additional bogey & birdie.
• David D'Agostino sits in a tie for 22^nd following a five-over 77 performance in his first round. A little bit of a rough start as he bogeyed, double bogeyed, and triple bogeyed within his first five holes. He was able to right the ship and played much better during his remaining holes, with two birdies, a bogey, and 10 pars.
• In a tie for 36^th, Cameron Cappuzzo scored a seven-over 79 in his first round. His card consist of five bogeys, two double bogeys, and two birdies.

UP NEXT
Methodist will get ready for the second round on Monday with the first Monarch golfer teeing off at 8:30 AM.