KENNESAW, Ga. (October 21, 2019) – Bolstered by his first career hole-in-one, sophomore Nate Vance continued his breakout fall season as the Loyola University Chicago men's golf team opened play at the Pinetree Intercollegiate in Kennesaw, Ga. today.
 
The Maroon & Gold finds itself as part of a tie for seventh place, alongside Austin Peay (296-294), at 590 (298-292) in the team standings and sits just three strokes out of a spot in the top five.  Belmont's Ethan Davis closed the opening day of competition with a 10-under-par 134 (68-66) to seize control in the race for individual medalist honors.
 
Vance was tremendous today at the par-72, 7,108-yard Pinetree Country Club.  The Marshalltown, Iowa product used a two-under-par back nine during first-round play to ultimately turn in a one-under-par 71.  Vance stayed hot during the afternoon, opening his second round with back-to-back birdies before holing out on the par-three fourth hole as part of a two-under-par 70 round that brought his total for the day to 141 (71-70).  He is currently tied for fourth place with Western Kentucky's Linus Lo (69-72=141).
 
Senior Justin LaFrance made his 2019 debut this afternoon.  Out of Milford, Mich., LaFrance carded a two-over-par 74 in the day's second round as part of a five-over-par 149 (75-74) that has him as part of a tie for 24^th.  Junior Tyler Anderson matched LaFrance in the afternoon, firing a 74 of his own that brought his total to 150 (76-74), moving him into a tie for 30^th. 
 
Junior Devin Johnson is tied for 37^th with a 152 (76-76) after posting back-to-back rounds of 76.  Redshirt junior Nick Welden, who, like LaFrance, is making his 2019 debut in The Peach State, also finished the day with a 74 during second-round play to climb up into a tie for 53^rd with a 155 (81-74).
 
The final round of the Pinetree Intercollegiate will begin on Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. (CT).