The Eastern men’s golf team is in ninth place with a score of 33-over-par after the first round of play at the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in Muscle Shoals, Ala.

The event is being held at the par-72 Fighting Joe Course, and the Eastern men teed off at 8 a.m. Monday.

The Panthers sit seven strokes behind the eighth place team, Morehead State, which finished 26-over-par. Seventh place Tennessee State finished 25-over-par.

Sophomore Francisco Cherizola leads the way for the Panthers by shooting three-over-par, putting him in 11th place overall. Freshman Gino Parrodi is close behind with a seven-over-par performance.

Parrodi came into the OVC Tournament averaging a score of 74.9 through 23 rounds and 1,723 strokes, which was good enough for second on the team.

Parrodi is just behind senior Matt Bird, who is averaging 74.3 on the year.

Cherizola is five strokes behind the leader, Hunter Hawkins of Jacksonville State, who shot a one-under 71 in the first round.

He began the front nine with birdies on holes one and nine, but bogeyed four holes on the back nine.

Cherizola said the wind really began to pick up speed at the conclusion of the ninth hole.

He said he was pleased with the way he drove the ball but would like to improve his putting in day two.

“The greens were really fast and difficult, but I think I did well making them,” he said. “I struggled with putting, which is something I will focus more on heading into (Tuesday’s) round.”

Senior Matt Davis said the wind was a problem as well, but said the team’s problems were with putting.

“I felt I hit the ball well, but the putts were really tricky and I missed a lot of close ones,” Davis said.

Eastern head coach Mike Moncel said the priority for day two of the tournament will be to improve the squad’s handling of the greens on the course.

“As a group, we struggled with the greens, especially with the factor of speed that these greens had,” he said.

The Panthers begin second round action today and the tournament will conclude Wednesday.

Day One results

1. Murray State – 289 (+1)

2. Austin Peay – 298 (+10)

3. Jacksonville State – 299 (+11)

4. Eastern Kentucky – 304 (+16)

5. Tennessee Tech – 309 (+21)

6. Tennessee-Martin – 311 (+23)

7. Tennessee State – 313 (+25)

8. Morehead State – 314 (+26)

9. Eastern Illinois – 320 (+32)

Second round begins today at 8 a.m. Live stats available on OVCSports.com.

Neil Schneider can be reached at 581-7944 or [email protected].