BORREGO SPRINGS, Calif. – With four of the 16 teams unable to finish round one of the Battle in the Desert, No. 12 Florida Southern stands atop the leaderboard at the Rams Hills Golf Club after shooting a 286 (-2).
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No. 3 Georgia Southwestern also joined the Moccasins in completing the round and unofficially stand in second at 287 (-1). Hawaii Hilo and No. 26 Chico State are unfinished but as a team stand at one-under.
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Max Barile opened the tournament on fire going under-par in four of his first six holes including three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole on the par-72 6,955-yard course. The Land O' Lakes, Fla. native finished the front nine four-under before a one-over back nine to make up his three-under.
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Donte Groppuso was charging Barile and is sitting a stroke off after an opening round 70 (-2). Groppuso finished his front nine two under after back-to-back birdies on the sixth and seventh. The Kingston, N.Y. native boogied the 10
th to drop a stroke but put together another two birdies to get to three under. Groppuso finished with his back nine even for his two-under.
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Tyler Mistretta battled back after a going two over on the front nine. The North Palm Beach, Fla. native used three birdies and four pars on the back nine to go one-under to finish at one-over 73.
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Max Watson finished fourth on the team for the day at 74 (+2). The Ashland, Ohio native shot a three-over 39 on the front before closing the day with a one-under 35 for his two-over.
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Adam Alvarez wrapped up the Moccasins in the field of 80 with a three-over 75. The Winter Haven, Fla. native opened the day with a two-over front nine before rallying in the second half of the day. Alvarez tripled the 10
th before carding an eagle on the par-5 11
th and followed up with birdie to sit at two over through 12 holes. He finished with three pars, two bogeys and one birdie for a one-over 37 back nine.
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The four teams will finish round one before round two will commence Tuesday at the Rams Hill Golf Club. Â
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