ALBANY, Ga. – The No. 1 University of North Georgia (UNG) men's golf team finished day one of the 11th Annual GSW Hurricane Invitational in eighth place among the 15-team field.

The Nighthawks combined to shoot 17-over par at the 7,024-yard, par-73 Doublegate Country Club Monday.

No. 7 Florida Southern leads the field at even par while No. 11 Columbus State, No. 14 USC Beaufort and No. 9 Wingate all closed the day at 3-over in a tie for second place. Host No. 3 Georgia Southwestern landed in the top five at 5-over followed by Tampa (11-over), Carson-Newman (12-over) and the Nighthawks. 

Freshman Jack Rowe had the best day of any UNG golfer on Monday. After closing round one with three birdies in his final seven holes, Rowe finished at 1-over. He then went out for round two and used a trio of birdies to post a 72. Rowe currently sits in 15th place individually after 36 holes.

Junior Grant Langford shot a 3-over 75 in round one and then cut two strokes in the second round with a 73. Perhaps those two strokes were removed at the 549-yard par-5 13th hole where Langford carded the only Nighthawk eagle of the day. He sits in 28th place on the 81-player leaderboard ahead of Tuesday's final round.

Senior Hunter Smith concluded day one in 46th place individually after a 74 in round one and a 77 in round two.

Despite participating as an individual, freshman Drew Sutherland used a 72 in round one and a 73 in round two to end the day in 15th place.

UNG has won three consecutive Hurricane Invitationals on top of another victory back in 2016. It will look to defend its title for the fourth straight season with a comeback in the final round tomorrow. The field tees off in a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.