FLORENCE, S.C. – Justin Newton fired a one-under-par 71 as Elon opened in fifth place – just four shots behind leader Chattanooga – following first-round action at the 2007 Southern Conference Men’s Golf Championship Sunday afternoon at the Country Club of South Carolina.

Newton pulled into a three-way tie for fourth place with Western Carolina’s Matt Cook and Chattanooga’s Mitch Brock in the 50-player field. Wofford’s Garrett Medeiros (68), Appalachian State’s Taylor Hines (69) and Western Carolina’s Andres Cuenca (70) hold the top three positions entering the second day of the three-day, three-round, 54-hole event.

The top seven squads are separated by a mere seven strokes in the 10-team tournament. Chattanooga (293), Wofford (295), Georgia Southern (296), Western Carolina (296), the Phoenix (297), College of Charleston (298), UNC Greensboro (300), Furman (307), Davidson (307) and Appalachian State (309) make up the field.

Elon’s Jimmy Lytle (Tied-15th/74), Jayson Judy (Tied-19th/75), Phil Bartholomew (Tied-29th/77) and Scott Hockemeyer (Tied-29th/77) have all landed among the top 30 golfers.   

–ELON–