East Carolina University
Rees Jones Invitational
Al Dickens Matches School Record To Lead Rees Jones Invitational Field
September 21, 2014 | Men's Golf
DAUFUSKIE ISLAND, S.C. --- Redshirt junior Al Dickens matched the East Carolina school record, shooting an 8-under 64, to move atop of the leaderboard Sunday, on day one of the Rees Jones Collegiate Invitational at the par-72 Haig Point signature course. The Pirates finished the first round in second place with a 2-under 286, trailing first place Kennesaw State by one stroke, but leading third-place Charleston Southern by seven strokes.
"Last week [at the Tar Heel Intercollegiate] I was trying to do everything perfectly and putting to much pressure on myself to perform," Dickens said. "This week my goal has been to resist the urge for perfection. I just have been reminding myself that I've got to trust the abilities that God has blessed me with and play with confidence knowing He is ultimately in control."
Dickens opened his record setting round with a birdie on No.1 and finished the front nine a 3-under par, posting four birdies. The Charlotte native made only one bogey, on the third hole, before finishing with 15 straight holes of par-or-better golf. After hitting 14 greens in regulation, he sank nine of 14 birdie putts, the most by any player in the 63-man field.
"I putted as well as I ever had," Dickens explained. "It's my best club in the bag, but sometimes I don't free up like I should. Today I just sped up my reads, kept them simple and putted with confidence."
Dickens 64 matches the school record set by Anthony Reale at the Seascape Intercollegiate in 2006. However, Dickens becomes the first player in ECU history to fire a single round score of 8-under as Reale shot a 6-under 64 on a par 70 course.
Dickens holds a three stroke lead over Kennesaw State's Teremoana Beaucousin and Winthrop's Zach Seabolt, who each carded a 5-under 67.
While Dickens' remarkable play highlighted the Pirates' first round, a pair of ECU players completed the opening 18 holes in the top 10. Junior Nick Thompson, playing as an individual, carded a par-72 to tie for fifth with three birdies, three bogeys and 12 pars. Fellow junior Wes Conover is tied for ninth a 1-over 73. He was 1-under through 10 but moved to 1-over after a double bogey on 11 before he birdied the final seven holes. Conover also posted 12 pars.
Jacob Hicks shot a 2-over 74 to finish tied for 19th, while George Kilgore carded a 3-over 75 to tie for 23rd. Freshman Tim Conover fired a 9-over and sits in 55th place.
The tournament resumes play Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. The Pirates will play alongside Keenesaw State and Charleston Southern in round two, teeing off at No. 1 at 9:20 a.m.
Players Mentioned
