LAHAINA, HAWAII – North Florida men’s golf jumps into a top-three team standing through 18 holes, along with true freshman Luke Balaskiewicz being among the top three individuals through the first round at the Ka’anapali Classic Collegiate hosted by Hawaii on Monday afternoon.
The Ospreys was the only team in the first round of the tournament to have all five players in the starting lineup shoot a score under par. Balaskiewicz led the way with a career-best 6-under 65 mark, while Danny Erickson was right behind in 10th overall at 4-under 67.
COURSE REPORT
Ka’anapali Golf Resort (Lahaina, Hawaii)
Par 71 | 6,700 yards
Monday, Oct. 27 | 18 holes
SCORECARD (Osprey lineup)
3 – North Florida | 12-under 272
3. Luke Balaskiewicz | 6-under 65
10. Danny Erickson | 4-under 67
T51. Chase Carroll | 1-under 70
T51. Filippo Serra | 1-under 70
T51. Laurens Schulze-Doering | 1-under 70
TEAM STANDINGS: 19 Teams
Oklahoma (21-under), TCU (17-under), North Florida (12-under), Florida Gulf Coast (11-under), Georgia (11-under), Boise State (11-under), Southern Illinois (9-under), San Jose State (9-under), Colorado (8-under), Sacramento State (8-under), Hawaii (8-under), Gonzaga (7-under), Indiana (4-under), ETSU (3-under), Kansas (3-under), UConn (3-under), Wyoming (1-over), UC Irvine (4-over), CSU Northridge (7-over)
SCHROEDER’S STATEMENT
“It was a nice first round for the guys after a rough start. Great playing by Luke [Balaskiewicz] to get the event started for us.”
— Director of Golf Scott Schroeder
ROUND REFLECTIONS
Balaskiewicz used a 5-under score with five birdies on the front nine to catapult himself to third on the leaderboard at 6-under 65.
The freshman holds the second-best par-three scoring average at 2-under (2.50) and has a top-five mark in birdies through 18 holes with seven total.
Erickson matched Balaskiewicz’s scorecard for the front nine on all but one hole to join him in the top 10 overall at 4-under 67.
Chase Carroll had a fantastic front nine as well with four birdies and an eagle to be 1-under 70 on the day.
Filippo Serra used four birdies, an eagle and a share of the best par-five scoring average at 4-under (3.67) to be with Carroll at 1-under 70.
Laurens Schulze-Doering finished right behind Balaskiewicz with six total birdies for a top-seven mark in the opening round to be the third Osprey at 1-under 70.
Erickson, Carroll and Schulze-Doering were all top eight in par-three scoring average at 1-under (2.75).
Balaskiewicz, Erickson and Schulze-Doering were all top 10 in par-five scoring average at 3-under (4.00).
Both Carroll and Serra scored eagle on the sixth hole to finish out a strong first-round performance.
The Ospreys holds the best par-five scoring average at 15-under (4.00), which is four strokes better than the second-best mark, while also being tied for second in par-three scoring average at 2-under (2.90).
UNF is one of seven teams to record multiple eagles on day one of the tourney to go along with the second-most birdies with 26 total.
It was also a season-best round for the Ospreys by nine strokes with a 12-under 272 mark.
UP NEXT
North Florida looks to continue its play in the second round of the Ka’anapali Classic Collegiate on Tuesday, Oct. 28, in Lahaina, Hawaii.
