Hattiesburg, Miss. - The Middle Tennessee men's golf team stands in eighth place after a solid day, highlighted by Blake Biven's 67 in the opening round of the Raising Cane Classic hosted by Southern Mississippi. The Blue Raiders, playing in their first tournament of the 2003-04 season, turned in rounds of 286 and 288 in Monday's 36-hole opening day. The afternoon's action leaves the Blue Raiders 19 strokes behind Jacksonville State, which turned in rounds of 280 and 278 to pace the field.
Biven's first-round total is his lowest round as a collegian. The exclamation point on his effort came on the par-3 fourth hole, where he dropped a six-iron shot into the cup for an ace. Bivens, a redshirt junior, carded a 71 in the second round to lead the Blue Raiders individually, putting him in a tie for fifth place at 138 (-4).
Sophomore Josh Nelms was the only other Blue Raider to finish below par on the day after shooting two straight rounds of 70 to complete 36 holes at 2-under 140.
Junior Chris Webb shot 71-74 to finish tied for 36th at 145 (+3), while senior Charlie Gibson and junior Mac Lee each shot rounds of 74-73 to end the afternoon at 147 (+5) and tied for 49th.
The Blue Raiders will complete the tournament on Tuesday morning with a final round at the Canebreak Golf Club.
Team Results
1 Jacksonville St. 280 278 558
2 Austin Peay State U. 286 274 560
3 South Alabama, U. of 284 280 564
4 Southeastern La. U. 288 278 566
5 Mississippi St. U. 288 279 567
6 Southern Mississippi 283 286 569
7 Arkansas-Little Rock 287 285 572
8 Middle Tennessee St. 286 288 574
9 Mc Neese State Univ. 288 287 575
10 So. Florida, U. of 289 291 580
11 Sam Houston St. U. 298 286 584
12 Louisiana Tech Univ. 294 293 587
Arkansas State U. 300 287 587
14 Tulane University 296 294 590
15 New Orleans, U. of 306 299 605
Blue Raider Individual Results
T 5 Blake Bivens 67 71 138
T 36 Chris Webb 71 74 145
T 44 Jonathan Burns 75 71 146
T 49 Charlie Gibson 74 73 147
T 49 Mac Lee 74 73 147
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