TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Luke Powell, making his first start as a member of the Alabama men’s golf team, is in a tie for second to lead the No. 11-ranked Crimson Tide during Friday’s opening round of the Olympia Fields Country Club/Fighting Illini Invitational. As a team, the Tide is in fifth overall after 18 holes played with a team score of 3-over par 283.

Powell ended his day at 2-under par 68, highlighted by going 4-under across his final four holes with an eagle, two birdies and a par. Jonathan Griz is also among the top 15 individuals in a tie for 14^th overall after carding an even par 70.

Individual Highlights

• Luke Powell, who transferred from UCLA in the offseason, had two bogeys over his opening 14 holes before an eagle on the 578-yard par 5 15^th hole brought him back to even par
• He then birdied No. 16 (215-yard par 3) and No. 18 (498-yard par 4) to end the day one stroke back of clubhouse leader Adam Bresnu of Texas Tech (-3)
• Powell went -2 (4.00) on par 5 holes which is tied for tops among all golfers in the field
• Jonathan Griz ended his day with two birdies and two bogeys, both of which came across his first six holes played 
• It was Griz’s third round of par or better in four rounds played this season
• Powell and Griz were two of only 20 individuals to shoot par or better on Friday
• Connor Brown carded a 2-over par 72 and is in a tie for 35^th while William Jennings in a shot back at 3-over 73 to place him in a tie for 41^st
• Jack Mitchell (80) rounded out the UA golfers in a tie for 77^th

Team Highlights

• No. 19 Texas Tech (-1) holds a one-shot lead over No. 4 Oklahoma State (E) after 18 holes played
• No. 10 Florida (+2) is tied with Loyola Marymount (+2), with the Crimson Tide (+3) rounding out the top five teams
• No. 12 Illinois, No. 15 Florida State and No. 16 Texas A&M are all tied for sixth overall at 5-over par

Next Up

• Round two begins Saturday morning on the par 70, 7,353-yard Olympia Fields Country Club course
• Alabama will tee off on Hole No. 1 beginning at 8:45 a.m. CT
• Live stats can be found on Golfstat.com