Monroe, N.C. – The Catawba Men's Golf team was in action on the opening day of the Ralph Hargett Memorial Invitation on Monday, ending the first two rounds of play at the Rolling Hills Country Club T-11th with an overall score of +21, 597
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Paul Esnault would finish the day T-13th with a score of E, 144 after a terrific pair of E, 72 rounds to begin play. He was consistently solid through each section of the day, finishing with seven birdies and just seven bogeys. Esnault kept his score balanced throughout, with two birdies and two bogeys over the front-nine of round one and a birdie, bogey, and seven pars over the back-nine for a pair of even frames to start. In the second round, Esnault would score a +1, 37 over the front-nine before shooting three birdies and just two bogeys over the back-nine for a -1, 35, once again giving him an even round overall
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Connor Carter finished the opening two rounds T-40th, with a +6, 150 after some solid stretches of play throughout the day. Carter scored a -1, 35 over the front-nine in the opening round by tallying two birdies and six pars, and though he hit some tough spots over the back-nine Carter would finish the first round with a solid +2, 74. He'd build off that with a +4, 76 second round, with two birdies in the front-nine and eight pars over the back-nine
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Luke Nelson wouldn't be far behind Carter, ending the day T-45th at +7, 151. Nelson's strongest golf came in the opening round, where he'd finish +2, 74 after an E, 36 front-nine that featured two birdies and just two pars. Nelson would tally a +5, 77 in the second round, including a +2, 38 over the front-nine that included seven pars
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Ryan Masterton would finish right behind Nelson, sitting at +8, 152 after the opening two rounds. Unlike Carter and Nelson, however, Masterton's best golf came during the two-nine stretches on the day. In the opening round, he bounced back from a +4, 40 start with two birdies on the way to an E, 36 back-nine for a +4, 76 total. In the second round, Nagy would put together a birdie and seven pars during the back-nine for a +1, 37 on the way to another +4, 76 round on the day
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Justin Nagy closed Monday T-72nd with a score of +12, 156. Nagy opened and closed the day with his best golf, beginning with a birdie and seven pars over the front-nine of the opening round as a part a +5, 77 showing. In the second round, he closed the back-nine with a +1, 37 that featured an eagle and six pars on the way to a +7, 79 frame overall
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Nagy became the fourth Catawba player this season to record an eagle, and one of 10 players to do so at the Ralph Hargett Memorial on Monday
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Esnault found himself T-1st in Par 3's at -1 with an average of 2.88, with Carter T-2nd at E/3.00
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Masterton's 24 pars were tied for fifth-most, while all five Catawba players would finish with at least 20 on the first day
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Esnault's seven birdies would also be tied for fifth-most, with Carter's six tying him for sixth-most
- Catawba College Men's Golf returns to action at the Rolling Hills Golf Club on Tuesday, March 19th, competing in the third and final round of the Ralph Hargett Memorial Invitational
