Morganton, N.C. - Senior Sam Ryder (Longwood, Fla.) got his final season with the Stetson men's golf team off to his typical strong start on Monday by shooting 69-71 in the first two rounds of the Donald Ross Intercollegiate at Mimosa Hills Golf Club. He is tied for sixth individually at four under par; the Hatters stand ninth of 11 teams at 22 over par after 36 holes.

Ryder was the low scorer for Stetson in both rounds. Senior Micah Jacobsen (Fernandina Beach, Fla.) shot consistent scores of 74-75 and is tied for 30th at five over par while senior Andrew Schiano (Orlando, Fla.) bounced back from an 80 in the morning with a one over par 73 in the afternoon; he is tied for 42nd at +9. Freshman Matt Taylor (Naples, Fla.) carded consecutive rounds of six over par 78 in his first day of collegiate competition while sophomore Ed Waller (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) rounded out the team with rounds of 80-82.

Presbyterian's Matt Sizemore shot six under par 66 in both the morning and the afternoon rounds to race out to a 12 under par score and a two-stroke lead over Marcelo Rozo (Lynn) and Kristopher Gray (Gardner-Webb). Chase Wilson of High Point and Appalachian State individual Josh Nichols are tied for fourth at five under par, one stroke ahead of Ryder and five behind Rozo and Gray.

In the team standings, 2011 NCAA Division II national runner-up Lynn stands at eight under par collectively after Monday's first two rounds, nine strokes ahead of Western Carolina. Tournament host Appalachian State stands third at +2, 10 strokes off the lead, with Presbyterian (+3), Gardner-Webb (+4), High Point (+11), Radford (+13) and George Washington (+19) also leading the Hatters (+22) at this point. Stetson is ahead of Elon (+24) and Maryland-Eastern Shore (+75) with one round to play.

The final round of the Donald Ross Intercollegiate is set for tomorrow morning at Mimosa Hills.

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