AWENDAW, S.C. – Junior Ross Funderburke (-4) fired a 68 to tie for sixth Sunday and lead the Furman (E) men's golf team in the opening round of the 17th Hootie at Bulls Bay at the par 72, 7,248 yard Bulls Bay Golf Club in Awendaw, S.C.

A native of Roanoke, Va., Funderburke teed off on No. 10 and tallied five birdies on the back nine, including three-straight from No. 16 through No. 18.  He added a sixth birdie on No. 4 to finish the day two strokes back of leaders Ryan Hall (-6) of South Carolina and Brett Schell (-6) of Mississippi who each shot 66 to lead the field Sunday. 

Senior Jack Crosby (-1) is tied for 26th after recording a 71 with six birdies, including three in a row from No. 4 through No. 6, while junior Walker Crosby (+2) is tied for 62nd after carding a 74 with three birdies in the first day of competition.

Senior Owen Burden (+3) tallied a 75 with three birdies to tie for 70th, and junior Sam Lape (+5) shot a 77 with birdies on No. 5 and No. 18, tying for 82nd.  Junior Reynolds Lambert (+4), who is playing as an individual, is tied for 75th.  He scored a 76 with four birdies Sunday. 

Tournament co-host South Carolina (-17), which ranks 29th, leads No. 22 Ole Miss (-11) by six strokes after one round.  No. 28 ETSU (-8) sits in third, followed by 35th-ranked N.C. State (-7) in fourth place.  Missouri (-5) and No. 13 Auburn (-5) are tied for fifth place.  Furman (E) is in 11th place after Sunday's opening round.

The 54-hole tournament continues on Monday with teams teeing off of No. 1 and No. 10 beginning at 9 a.m.  The Paladins will tee off of No. 10 starting at 9 a.m. and will play in a group with West Virginia and Kent State.  Admission to the tournament is free and fans are welcome.  Live tournament scoring will also be available via www.birdiefire.com.

11 Furman 288 E

T6 Ross Funderburke (2) 68 -4 

T26 Jack Crosby (1) 71 -1 

T62 Walker Crosby (3) 74 +2

T70 Owen Burden (5) 75 +3

T82 Sam Lape (4) 77 +5

T75 Reynolds Lambert (IND) 76 +4