March 19, 2006

Pinehurst, N.C. (SMU) - The SMU men's golf team holds a three-shot lead following the first round of the Pinehurst Intercollegiate. SMU carded a 291 as a team at the par-72, 7,035-yard Centennial Pinehurst Course No. 8 to lead host Indiana by three shots.

Colt Knost, last season's Pinehurst medalist, is again leading SMU, shooting a 1-under 71 to tie for second. He trails UNCG's Nathan Stamey by one shot. Brandon DeStefano is one shot back of Knost at even-par 72 and is tied for fourth. Wes Homan and Will Dodson each shot 2-over 74 and are tied for 14th. Scott Sikes rounds out the SMU group, standing in 45th at 5-over 77.

Last season, Knost drained a 30-foot putt on No. 18 to clinch medalist honors and the team title for the Mustangs. Knost's putt highlighted a final-round 69 as the Pilot Point, Texas, native edged Indiana's Jeff Overton by one stroke, 210 to 211, and his six-under-par effort led the Mustangs to a one-stroke team win over Xavier, 875 to 876.

This year's event features 16 teams in addition to SMU - Ball State, Charlotte, East Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, Marquette, Michigan, Penn State, Rhode Island, Southern Miss, UAB, UNC-Greensboro, UNC-Wilmington, Virginia Commonwealth, Wisconsin and Xavier.

The tournament's second 18 takes place on Monday, again with players teeing off from the first and 10th holes at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday's final round commences with shotgun tee times starting at 8:30 a.m.

For live scoring throughout the event, click here.