KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. - The Georgia Southwestern golf team fired a blistering 4-under par 284 on Monday to grab a nine-stroke lead after Day 1 at the season-opening Kiawah Island Invitational. J.P. Griffin led the Hurricane assult, tying for the top spot in the 85-player field with a 4-under 68.
Teammate Craig Gibson tamed the 6,875 yard, par 72 Cougar Point Golf Course, as well, finishing a stroke behind Griffin with a 3-under 69.
Southwestern sits nine strokes ahead of host USC Aiken and 10 shots ahead of St. Andrews. 14th-ranked Georgia College is fourth after posting an 8-over 296.
Nate Gahman (72) and Chris Hall (75) are tied for 11th and 25th, respectively for GSW. Freshman Travis Oestmann added an 83.
The Hurricanes return to the links on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. for the final round in Kiawah Island.
2011 KIAWAH ISLAND INVITATIONAL - TEAM SCORES
| Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Total | ||
| (RV) GSW | 284 | -4 | ||
| (18) USC Aiken | 293 | +5 | ||
| St. Andrews | 294 | +6 | ||
| (14) Georgia College | 296 | +8 | ||
| (RV) Belmont Abbey | 296 | +8 | ||
| (19) Armstrong Atlantic | 296 | +8 | ||
| USC Beaufort | 298 | +10 | ||
| (RV) Carson-Newman | 298 | +10 | ||
| Concord | 299 | +11 | ||
| (11) Barton | 300 | +12 | ||
| (RV) Mount Olive | 309 | +21 | ||
| Coker | 310 | +22 | ||
| Erskine | 310 | +22 | ||
| (RV) North Georgia | 313 | +25 | ||
| Catawba | 316 | +28 | ||
| Bluefield State | 318 | +30 | ||
| Fairfield State | 318 | +30 | ||
| ( ) - NCAA Division II ranking in latest Golf World/Nike Golf Coaches Poll with RV = received votes | ||||
GSW SCORES
| Place | Rd. 1 | Rd. 2 | Total | ||
| T1 | J.P. Griffin | 68 | -4 | ||
| T3 | Craig Gibson | 69 | -3 | ||
| T11 | Nate Gahman | 72 | E | ||
| T25 | Chris Hall | 75 | +3 | ||
| T73 | Travis Oestmann | 83 | +11 |