No. 2 Bulldogs tied in Daphne

Mississippi Gulf Coast faced a step up in class Monday in the first round of the Coastal Alabama Invitational in Daphne, Ala., and the No. 2 Bulldogs responded to the challenge.

Gulf Coast, an NJCAA Division II team, is tied with No. 6 Eastern Florida State, an NJCAA Division I squad at 5-over 293 at Timber Creek Golf Club.

"It was a grind out there today," Gulf Coast coach Brad Thornton said. "The guys really stayed in it mentally and were able to give us a chance to win tomorrow."

Central Alabama is four shots back, and No. 10 Wallace State is another shot back in fourth. Jefferson State and Calhoun are in fifth and sixth place, another shot between the bunch.

Alessio Graziani (So., Johannesburg, South Africa/Beaulieu College) is tied for third at 1-under. He's three shots behind Eastern Florida's Adam Vermut.

"Alessio was really up and down all day," Thornton said. "He was very good off the tee, which set up a lot of short shots in for him. He was able take advantage of it. He had a huge eagle on 15 coming in. It was a good finish for him and he'll have a chance at the individual title tomorrow."

Chase Kaiser (So., Natchez/Cathedral) is tied for ninth at 1-over. He eagled No. 2 and birdied No. 4, finishing with a birdie on 18.

The final round will be played Tuesday at Timber Creek.

"The teams here are always at an elite level," Thornton said. "It gives our guys a better understanding of what it takes to compete on a national level when we get prepared for the postseason. A lot of good things come out of trips this way with the competition we get to play."

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