Sports

Darton dominates Day 1 of Andrew Spring Invitational

Scott Chancey

CUTHBERT — Darton College golfer Coleman Calhoun is back in the swing of things.

He showed flashes of what made him a first-team NJCAA All-American last year by scoring a 2-under-par 70, earning a share of the lead after Round 1 Monday of the Andrew College Spring Invitational. Darton scored a 3-over-par 291, which is a commanding  lead over Abraham Baldwin (309) and Young Harris (319). Andrew only had three golfers and does not count in the official team scoring.

“It’s not too bad,” Calhoun said. “I’ve still got a long way to go. It’s looking a little better.”

Calhoun, who is tied for the overall lead with Young Harris’ Clifton Barton, made four birdies, and even an eagle on the par-5 14th at Meadow Links Golf Course. Andrew’s Slade Phillips is second with a 71.

Right behind Calhoun, Darton’s Matt Smith scored a 73, followed by Chesley Gunn and Jin Chung each with a 74, and Aaron Elrod with a 76. Ridge Purcell and Evan Hanna carded a 76 playing as individuals, as did Andy Lewis with a 79.

“This is a big tournament because we get to see how all the teams from region have been doing,” Gunn said. “We hadn’t been playing in the same tournaments as them that often, so now that it’s getting close to region (May 5-6 in Helen), we want to see how we stack up.”

After having placed second in their previous three tournaments after winning their season opener, a win here seems a foregone conclusion. With the national tournament held just more than a month away (May 20-23 in Phoenix), however, Cavaliers coach Dale Dover challenged his team for today’s final round.

“We’re going to win the tournament, but I want them to go out and stay focused, practicing under the gun and squeezing a good round out for confidence purposes,” Dover said.

On Monday, however, Calhoun was not the only golfer who faltered late. Chung double-bogeyed the 18th, Gunn bogeyed 17th and Smith bogeyed the final hole.

“We didn’t finish well again,” Dover said. “If we had finished with pars on those holes, we would have probably been six shots better. The 18th is a par 5 so I thought we were going to get that under par. But this team is coming together. If we can putt the ball better, we’ll be all right.”

Andrew’s David Tenorio has an 85 and Mike Wiemers is at 117. Brock Young leads ABAC with a 74, followed by Corey Ranew (75), Jesse Tillman (77) and Chase Grantham (83).

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