AWENDAW, S.C. -- Furman junior Will Morlan (+2) and sophomore Clark Akers (+2) are tied for 31st to lead the Paladins Sunday after the opening day of the Hootie at Bulls Bay tournament, which is being hosted by the University of South Carolina at the par 72, 7,266 yard Bulls Bay Golf Club in Awendaw, S.C. 

A native of Alpharetta, Ga., Morlan birdied three-straight holes from No. 8 through No. 10 and finished the day with a 74 and a team-high four birdies.  Akers, who hails from Nashville, Tenn., tallied three birdies to also conclude the first round with a 2-over 74.

Senior Walker Crosby (+3) is tied for 42nd after posting a 75 with birdies on No. 2 and No. 8, while senior Ross Funderburke (+4) is one shot back in a tie for 56th after carding a 76 with consecutive birdies on No. 5 and No. 6.  Sophomore Harris Barth (+5) recorded back to back birdies on No. 3 and No. 4 to finish the day with a 77.  He is tied for 68th entering Monday's second round. 

West Virginia's Max Green (-5) leads the field by two strokes after firing a 67 in round one.  

No. 37 LSU (-4) holds a two-stroke lead over 19th-ranked New Mexico (-2), and host South Carolina (-1) is tied for third with 16th-ranked ETSU (-1).  West Virginia (E) completes the top five.  Furman (+11) is tied for tenth with No. 35 Missouri (+11) and Kent State (+11), ahead of N.C. State (+12) and Kentucky (+12), who are tied for 13th.   

The 54-hole tournament continues Monday at 9 a.m. with teams teeing off on No. 1 and No. 10.  The Paladins will tee off of No. 10 starting at 9:45 a.m. in round two and will play in a group with Kent State and Missouri.

Admission to the tournament is free and fans are welcome.  Results and live tournament scoring are available via http://www.FurmanPaladins.com and http://www.golfstat.com.

T10 Furman 299 +11

T31 Will Morlan (3) 74 +2

T31 Clark Akers (4) 74 +2

T42 Walker Crosby (5) 75 +3

T56 Ross Funderburke (2) 76 +4

T68 Harris Barth (1) 77 +5