Dawgs Rally Into Sixth Behind Potent Pichaikool

Friday, September 14

Louisville, Ky. (Univ. of Louisville GC)

All Day

Mississippi State

Louisville Cardinals Challenge

Dawgs Rally Into Sixth Behind Potent Pichaikool

September 14, 2018 | Men's Golf

Golfstat

by Austin Coats, Student Assistant/Communications

SIMPSONVILLE, Ky. – Mississippi State men's golf found itself in hot water after its opening nine holes at the Louisville Cardinals Challenge on Friday.

Led by junior Peng Pichaikool and freshman Ford Clegg, the Golf Dawgs turned it around on the front nine, where they shot 8-under for a first-round total 4-under-280 at the Par-71, 7,101-yard University of Louisville Golf Club.

MSU will have the pleasure of opening the second round on the front nine Saturday, as sophomore Hunter Hammett is set to be the first Bulldog off the first hole tee at 8:24 a.m. CT. Live results will be available through Golfstat.

Pichaikool is tied for second after he collected six birdies on the front nine and did not bogey the entire day on his way to an opening round 7-under-64, his best round since March 2017, and tied the fourth best round in program history. The Bangkok, Thailand, native ended his day with a pair of birdies on holes eight and nine.

"I am proud of the way we battled today," MSU men's golf coach Dusty Smith said. "Peng had a huge round for our team today and continues to play some great golf. Tomorrow is our next opportunity. I expect us to be excited and ready to play Mississippi State golf."

Freshman Ford Clegg bounced back on his front nine, after starting out with a double bogey and two more bogeys on the back. Clegg made the turn and sunk four birdies to finish even and tied for 37th.

"Ford did a nice job battling and getting us a round in the house after a tough start," Smith said.

Senior Austin Rose carded a 1-over-72 for the round, while junior Garrett Johnson and Hammett each shot 2-over.

Competing as an individual, sophomore Griffin Agent shot a 3-over-74 into a share of 71st.

The Duke Blue Devils led the 16-team field with 27-under-257 to start. Blue Devil Alex Smalley leads Pichaikool and the pack by three strokes at 10-under-par.

For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the program on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching @HailStateMG.

MSU men's golf coach Dusty Smith:

"I am proud of the way we battled today. We came out a bit sluggish at the beginning of the round and dug ourselves in a hole early on. We need to do a much better job adjusting to the course conditions. Today the hole locations were gettable and the course was playing soft. We have to be able to pick up on that and take advantage of opportunities. Peng had a huge round for our team today and continues to play some great golf. Ford did a nice job battling and getting us a round in the house after a tough start. Tomorrow is our next opportunity. I expect us to be excited and ready to play Mississippi State golf."

Louisville Cardinals Challenge
1. Duke (257, -27)
T2. Wake Forest (268, -16)
T2. Louisville (268, -16)
T4. South Florida (277, -7)
T4. Western Kentucky (277, -7)
6. Mississippi State (280, -4)
T7. ULM (281, -3)
T7. Lamar (281, -3)
9. North Carolina (284, E)
10. Cincinnati (285, +1)
T11. Nebraska (286, +2)
T11. Kentucky (286, +2)
T13. Louisiana Tech (287, +3)
T13. Charlotte (287, +3)
15. East Tennessee State (290, +6)
16. Louisiana (292, +8)

MSU Players
T2. Peng Pichaikool (64, -7)
T40. Ford Clegg (71, E)
T47. Austin Rose (72, +1)
T60. Garrett Johnson (73, +2)
T60. Hunter Hammett (73, +2)
T71. Griffin Agent (74, +3)

*NOTE: Coaches chose to change par from 72 to 71 prior to Friday's opening round.