David, Morris Lead Rebels In Day One of SEC Championship

Rebels in Eighth Place

SEA ISLAND, Ga. – Joe David and Blake Morris each shot a 1-over 71 to lead the Rebels in the opening day of the SEC Championship at the Sea Island Golf Club on Friday afternoon.

The Rebels are in eighth place at the conclusion of today’s action after shooting a 7-over 287 as a team.

No. 8 Alabama shot a 272 to go into the clubhouse with a one-stroke lead over No. 25 Georgia.  Defending SEC champion No. 3 Auburn followed with a 277.

It was a rocky start for the Rebels, as a whole, with the team facing a tough back-nine to begin play.

“No one played well enough for us to move near the top of the leaderboard,” said Ole Miss head coach Ernest Ross.  “We did not play terribly, but we need some guys to step up and shoot under par.  The course is tough and tricky, but the greens are softer than past years.”

A birdie on the 18th got David on track, as the senior fired off two more birdies to finish at 1-over for the round.  David, who finished 14th in last year’s SEC Championship, sits in 20th going into the second day.

The freshman Morris matched David’s 71.  After bogeying two of his first five holes, Morris fired a 1-under the rest of the way, rolling in three birdies.

Senior Billy Brozovich shot a par on eight of his first nine holes.  Brozovich would have an up-and-down final nine to card a 2-over.

Tom Brown got off to a hot start with two birdies to open his day before finishing at 3-over.