POOLER, Ga. — Barry University's men's golfer Scott Smyer shot a career-low 66 in the opening round of the NCAA Division II South/Southeast Super Regional at Savannah Quarters Country Club Monday.
The No. 1-ranked Buccaneers shot 293 on the par-72, 7,016-yard course, and are tied with host Armstrong Atlantic for fourth place. South Carolina-Aiken leads the 20-team, 108-player field at 288. Nova Southeastern is second, two strokes back, and Florida Tech third at 291.
Smyers, the first-round clubhouse leader, recorded pars on the first eight holes before picking up his first birdie on the 391-yard ninth. He had birdies on three of the first four holes on the back nine, and made eagle on the 531-yard 17th.
Barry's Adam Svensson also had a strong first round, finishing at two-under 70. He had four birdies and two bogeys, and is tied for sixth place with four other golfers.
Armstrong's Shad Tuten is a stroke behind Smyers after shooting 67. Florida Southern's Tim Crouch, Florida Tech's Joe Ellis and Nova Southeastern's Santiago Gomez each shot 69, and are tied for third.
The rest of the Buccaneer contingent struggled on what proved to be a tough back nine, as the trio of Jared Dalga, Mario Beltran and Berry Jole combined for a 16-over. Dalga shot 78, Beltran 79 and Jole 80. Beltran and Jole each had two birdies, and Dalga one.
The tournament continues with Tuesday's second round, and concludes on Wednesday. The top seven teams, regardless of region, and the top four individuals on teams not advancing will earn spots into the NCAA Championships field in Allendale, Michigan May 19-23. The region tournament has produced 18 of the last 20 NCAA Division II men's golf champions from either the South or the Southeast Region. Barry won the 2013 and 2007 national titles, while Sunshine State Conference brethren Nova Southeastern was the 2012 champ.
The Bucs quintet are scheduled to tee off at noon Tuesday.