No. 41 Liberty kept pace with the leaders during Day 1 of the 43^rd annual Schenkel Invitational and is in fifth place following play on Friday.

The Flames made the turn at 7-under par and were just five shots behind No. 19 and tournament host Georgia Southern midway through the round.

However, Liberty was not as strong on the back nine, finishing the first day of the three-day event with a 1-under par 287 on the Forest Heights Country Club (par 72, 7,123 yards).

Georgia Southern used its local knowledge of its home course to open up a sizeable lead following 18 holes of play. The Eagles currently lead the 14-team field with a 16-under par 272.

No. 24 Mississippi State is in a distant second place following a 4-under par 284. Wisconsin and Kentucky are one shot ahead of the Flames after a 2-under par 286.

Mississippi State’s Hunter Logan leads a group of 18 players who finished the first day of the tournament in red figures. Logan leads the 84-man field with a 7-under par 65.

Liberty’s Isaac Simmons was part of the group of 18 players to finish Day 1 with an under-par score. Simmons recorded four birdies on his way to a 1-under par 71, go enough for a share of 12^th place.

Austin Barbin, Connor Polender and Jonathan Yaun followed just behind Simmons and are tied for 19^th place after an even par round of 72.

Yaun led Liberty during play on Friday with six birdies, while Barbin and Polender each carded three birdies.

Round Recap – Liberty’s Starting Five:

• Isaac Simmons – T12 1-under par 71 (71)
• Jonathan Yaun – T19 even par 72 (72)
• Austin Barbin – T19 even par 72 (72)
• Connor Polender – T19 even par 72 (72)
• Josh Ryan – T27 1-over par 73 (73)
• Individual: Evan Barbin – T73 8-over par 80 (80)

Course Information:

• Forest Heights Country Club (Statesboro, Ga.)
• Par 72, 7,123 yards

Following the Flames at Schenkel Invitational:

• Live stats will be available at Golfstat.com
• Twitter @LibertyGolf
• Instagram @LibertyGolf
• Round 2 Tee Time: Friday at 9:45 a.m./EST (No. 1 tee)