No. 1 Bulldogs lead the way at Titan Invitational

No. 1 Mississippi Gulf Coast got the spring golf season off to a great start in a fog-delayed first day of the Titan Winter Invitational in Melbourne, Fla.

The Bulldogs shot 2-under in the first round to lead host Eastern Florida State by six shots. The second round was called by darkness with four groups still on the course. Gulf Coast was 1-over when play was suspended.

"I was really proud of how the guys handled a two-hour delay this morning," Gulf Coast coach Brad Thornton said. "We didn't get off to a slow start. We played pretty well throughout. There's a little bit of rust in some small runs of holes."

Southeastern University, an NAIA team, is third at 5-over, and NJCAA Division I champion New Mexico is another shot back.

John Mark Mills (So., Pontotoc/Mike Bender Golf Academy) led the way all day for the Bulldogs. He was tied for second after the first round with a 3-under 69, and he completed his second round at 70.

"It goes all the way back to when he finally got that win at Windance in the fall," Thornton said. "When you get that monkey off your back, and he's signed to play at Austin Peay next year, a lot of stress falls off. He's kind of free-rolling and playing some good golf."

Stanley Campbell (So., London, England/Essex Golf College) was tied for fifth at 1-under after 18. Peyton Russell (So., Gautier/Gautier) rebounded from a 74 in the first round and was 2-under through 17 in the second.

Ludvig Behring (So., Sollentuna, Sweden/Osterakers Gymnasium) shot even the first round, and Harlan Yerger (Fr., Oxford/Oxford) was 3-over tied for 21^st.

"We had five guys in it all day," Thornton said. "That makes a big difference in college golf, when you know you've got that fifth guy and you're not just playing with four scores."

The final groups will complete the second round before everybody hits the course for the final 18 holes Tuesday morning.

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