No. 4 Men's Golf takes first-round lead at Schenkel Invitational

Friday, March 15

Forest Heights CC/Statesboro, Ga.

All Day

University of Texas

Schenkel Invitational

No. 4 Men's Golf takes first-round lead at Schenkel Invitational

03.15.2013 | Men's Golf

March 15, 2013

STATESBORO, Ga. -- Fueled by a pair of 4-under-par 68s by sophomore Kramer Hickok and freshman Brandon Stone, the No. 4 Texas Men's Golf team fired an 8-under 280 in Friday's opening round of the Schenkel Invitational to lead the 15-team field at Forest Heights Country Club. Hickok and Stone are in a four-way tie for second place and one stroke behind first-round leader Justin Thomas (67).

On the heels of a final-round 69 at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters last weekend, Hickok notched his second-consecutive round in the 60s Friday afternoon. Hickok bogeyed Forest Heights' opening hole, but quickly followed up with his first of six birdies on the next. After a stretch of four straight pars, he sank back-to-back birdies at Nos. 7 and 8 and dipped to 3-under through 10 holes with his fourth subpar immediately after the turn. His following three holes were a par-bogey-birdie stretch to remain at -3, and following four more pars, his sixth birdie came on the closing hole to finish the day at 4-under 68.

Stone's opening-round scorecard was flawless with four birdies on the third, fourth, seventh and 18 holes.

Junior Toni Hakula finished three strokes behind Hickok and Stone with a 71 for the Longhorns' third under-par round of the day. At 1-over through six holes, Hakula caught fire with three-straight birdies on Nos. 7-9 to turn at -2. A pair of bogeys and a fourth birdie on the back nine resulted in his 71. Hakula enters Saturday's second round tied for 13^th.

Seniors Cody Gribble (73) and Julio Vegas (78) round out the Texas players in ties for 22^nd and 73^rd places, respectively.

Saturday's second-round pairings will be available later this afternoon at Golfstatresults.com.

Schenkel Invitational
Forest Heights Country Club (par 72; 6,947 yards)
First-round Team Leaderboard
1. TEXAS - 280 (-8)
2. Alabama - 282 (-6)
3. Florida - 285 (-3)
4. UCF - 291 (+3)
T5. UAB - 292 (+4)
T5. Vanderbilt - 292 (+4)
T7. Kentucky - 294 (+6)
T7. North Florida - 294 (+6)
T9. Maryland - 296 (+8)
T9. North Texas - 292 (+8)
T11. College of Charleston - 297 (+9)
T11. Georgia Southern - 297 (+9)
T11. Notre Dame - 297 (+9)
T14. Mississippi - 301 (+13)
T14. Virginia - 301 (+13)

First-round Player Leaderboard
1. Justin Thomas, Alabama - 67 (-5)
T2. Kramer Hickok, Texas - 68 (-4)
T2. Brandon Stone, Texas - 68 (-4)
T2. Jose Joia, UCF - 68 (-4)
T2. Charlie Ewing, Vanderbilt - 68 (-4)
T6. Alex Ellis, College of Charleston - 70 (-2)
T6. MJ Maguire, North Florida - 70 (-2)
T6. Tyler McCumber, Florida - 70 (-2)
T6. TJ Vogel, Florida - 70 (-2)
T6. Cory Whitsett, Alabama - 70 (-2)
T6. Scott Wolfes, Georgia Southern - 70 (-2)
T6. Bobby Wyatt, Alabama - 70 (-2)