JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. – The Fire found themselves in the thick of the competition after the opening round of the Sun Conference Golf Championships on Sunday. Southeastern University's men's and women's teams both sit in the middle of the leader board following the first 18 holes at the Jekyll Island Golf Course.
Men's Championship
Sophomore Marley Read led the Fire with the team's lone under-par round, carding a 1-under 71 to sit tied for sixth individually.
As a team, Southeastern is in fifth place after a 6-over-par 294. Keiser University leads the field after posting a 3-under 285, four strokes ahead of second-place Coastal Georgia (288).
Individually, Coastal Georgia's Antonio Juarbe leads the tournament after shooting a 3-under 69. Four players, including Alex Veneziano and Ty Kaufman of Ave Maria, Lee Smith of Coastal Georgia, and Adam Buchanan from Keiser, are tied for second at 2-under.
Behind Read, junior Zach Shaw turned in a strong round, finishing at 1-over 73 to tie for 14th. Spencer McCranie sits one stroke back at 2-over 74 (T-19). Freshman Connor Williams shot a 4-over 76 (T-29), and Adam Crawley rounded out the Fire's Day One effort with a 6-over 78 (35th).
Women's Championship
On the women's side, junior Alejandra Cuellar led Southeastern to a fourth-place standing after the opening round of the Sun Conference Women's Golf Tournament.
Cuellar shot a 3-over 75 to tie for seventh individually. As a team, the Fire posted a 307 (+19) and trail third-place Coastal Georgia (301, +13) by six strokes. Keiser University holds a commanding lead after a 5-under 283, the only team to break par.
Keiser players dominate the top of the individual standings as well, with Mohea Mansbendel leading the field after a 3-under 69, followed closely by teammates Zigi Gao and Carolin Alblas at 1-under (71).
Supporting Cuellar, both Madelyn Campbell and Mariana Espinosa carded 5-over 77s to sit tied for 12th. Senior Maria Stephens finished one shot behind at 78 (+6) in 17th place, and Marlie Smit closed out the day with a 7-over 79 (T-18).
The Fire men's and women's teams will be back on the Jekyll Island Golf Course Monday morning for the second round of the three-day event.
