SUNSET BEACH, NC – James Hockman followed up his front-nine 36 with a back-nine 35 to lead Elon to a first-place tie with Liberty midway through the Sea Trail Intercollegiate men's golf tournament Saturday on the Rees Jones Course.

The Phoenix and the Flames each fired a first-round 294 in the annual two-day, two-round event on the 6,761-yard, par-72 course. Final-round action for the 20-team tournament is scheduled to begin Sunday morning.

Hockman's one-under-par 71 landed him in a tie with Liberty's James Yoo (36-35) and Gardner-Webb's Steve McDonald (37-34) for second place in the 100-golfer field. Western Carolina's Tim Eckberg shot a first-round 69 to forge a two-stroke lead over the three players.

J.D. McNeill (Tied-5th, 34-38–72), Ryan Loucks (Tied-11th, 36-38–74), Keith Orlen (Tied-39th, 35-42–77) and Ralph Alfieri (Tied-58th, 38-41–79) all turned in scorecards for host Elon in its first tournament of the fall season.

Davidson (296), Gardner-Webb (302), Appalachian State (303), Pfeiffer (304), Charleston Southern (306), Western Carolina (307), High Point (308) and George Mason (309) all earned top-10 positions entering the final round.

– ELON –