PINEHURST, N.C. Taking on the Tiger Invitational, the Methodist men's golf team put together a great opening round on Sunday, laying claim to the top spot on the leaderboard at –7 while accumulating an eight–stroke lead over the next best team.
 
After 18 holes, Chase Walts sits atop the player leaderboard at six strokes under par, holding a two–stroke advantage over second place.

JUST THE FACTS
Event: 2025 Tiger Invitational
Course: Forest Creek – North Course (Par 72, 6,701 yds.)
Top teams: 1 – Methodist (281; -7), 2 – Emory (289; +1), 3 – Babson (291; +3)
Top individuals: 1 – Chase Walts, Methodist (66; -6), 2 – Justin Chan, Carnegie Mellon (68; -4), 3 – Three Players (69; –3)
 
ROUND ONE

• Walts produced a nearly flawless round, recording seven birdies. His lone hiccup came on the 17th hole, where he took an extra stroke on the Par 4.
• After carding back–to–back bogeys on Holes 2 and 3, Hadey Ruby rebounded with a birdie on the fourth hole. Three more birdies throughout the round put him tied for sixth place at –2.
• Beau Brewer had a balanced day with four birdies and four bogeys. He shot one stroke under par on the front nine but stumbled down the stretch with bogeys on three of his last five holes. He ended the round on a positive note with a birdie on Hole 18.
• Caleb Ryan and Aiden Spampinato each shot one stroke over par on the round, still sitting inside the top 20 out of 100 golfers. Ryan sank two birdies on the front nine but shot three strokes over par after the turn, with four bogeys between Holes 11 and 16. Spampinato had a relatively calm round, with birdies on Holes 3 and 4 and a bogey on Hole 8. His lone blemish on the back nine was a double bogey on the 14th hole.

UP NEXT
The Monarchs will play the second and final round of the Tiger Invitational on Monday, with tee time set for 9:30 a.m.