Stevenson, Hughes lead SSU men's golf with top-10 opening rounds; Bears fourth following Day One of Georgetown Invitational

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- The men's golf program at Shawnee State notched a solid outing on the links as a unit to open up the first day of action at the Georgetown Invitational -- as two top-10 rounds from Tanner Stevenson and Logan Hughes led an outing where the Bears posted a 19-over 307 as a unit following the opening day of competition at the Georgetown Invitational Monday evening at the Cherry Blossom Golf and Country Club in Georgetown, Ky.

While Shawnee State currently sits fourth in the field, the Bears have more than a puncher's chance to claim the team crown with a strong second day of competition. SSU sits just 11 strokes back of leader Georgetown (Ky.), who shot an eight-over 296 on the opening day. West Virginia Tech's nine-over 297 and Bluefield (Va.)'s 303 have four teams right in the thick of the fight to claim the top spot with 18 holes and a round of golf to go on Tuesday. The Bears are 10 shots back of West Virginia Tech for second and just four back of Bluefield for third. Union Commonwealth, who shot a 41-over 329 Monday, sits fifth.

Stevenson, who shot a two-over 74, led Shawnee State -- as the senior sits tied for sixth with West Virginia Tech's Santiago Zambrano. Stevenson, a senior from Wheelersburg, sits just three shots back of the overall lead, held by Bluefield (Va.)'s Eetu Kilpinen.

Hughes, who put his ability all together on Monday, shot a three-over 75 -- and is currently tied with Georgetown's Laine Schulten, Carter Zutterman, and Ethan Kleier for eighth place on the leaderboard. Just a shot back from Stevenson, the junior multi-sport athlete and Flemingsburg, Ky. product sits a mere four shots back of Kilpinen.

Trey Cracraft, a sophomore who hails from Maysville, Ky. -- an area that sits one county over from where Hughes is from -- shot a six-over 78 to tie for 17th himself, while Owen Robinson allowed Shawnee State to put two underclassmen in the top-20 overall with his eight-over 80, tying for 20th to begin his second career outing as a true freshman.

Ross Ferrell's 26th place and Cayden Haislop's 28th place round finished off the competitors for Shawnee State to conclude the first day of the Georgetown Invitational.

Shawnee State gets back on the links Tuesday as the Bears attempt to conclude matters with a strong finish at Cherry Blossom.