MORGAN HILL, Calif. – The second-seeded Florida State Men’s Golf team had a solid showing in its first round of the NCAA Morgan Hill Regional, ending the day in second place at 7-under. The Seminoles played at the ultra-private Institute Golf Club nearby San Jose.
Junior Frederik Kjettrup jumpstarted Florida State by tying his career low in the NCAA postseason with a first-round 68. His 4-under score ties him for second on the leaderboard, behind only Missouri’s Alfons Bondesson who has a 5-under 67.
The Seminoles trail only tournament leader Mississippi State, who is 12-under so far. Top-seeded Pepperdine is in third place at 4-under, followed by Charlotte and Baylor each at 3-under for the fourth and fifth spots. The Top 5 teams through three rounds advance to the NCAA Championship Finals that take place in Scottsdale, Ariz., next week.
Kjettrup started with an even-par 36 on the front nine, but picked up steam on the back when he shot a 32. His round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5, 511-yard 14th hole.
“I didn’t play too well on the first couple holes but kept it going and pulled some putts for par,” Kjettrup said following the first round. “Then I started playing better and things started going my way on the back nine. That eagle on 14 helped. I pretty much hit it to two feet for a tap-in eagle. I started hitting better (over the back nine) and got more confident over the ball.”
Kjettrup carded four holes under par on the back nine, including a birdie on the par-3 17th hole. His score of 68 ties his low in the postseason set during his freshman season in the third round of the NCAA Regional held at the Seminole Legacy Golf Club in Tallahassee.
Freshman Luke Clanton fired a 2-under 70 to tie for ninth in the opening round. He began with an impressive 33 on the front nine and continued to play well on the back nine. His only blemish was back-to-back bogeys to end his round on 17 and 18.
Junior Brett Roberts, who won the NCAA West Palm Beach Regional last year, was steady with a 1-under 71. Roberts got stronger as the round went on, using a 34 on the back nine which included consecutive birdies on holes 14 and 15. Roberts recorded his sixth round under par in 13 career rounds played in an NCAA Regional or Final.
Freshman Jack Bigham was also a counting score with an even par 72. Redshirt junior Cole Anderson shot a 1-over 73.
Anderson will tee off for the Seminoles on Tuesday beginning at 10:30 a.m….
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