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BURLINGTON, Iowa – Virginia Tech shot an opening round four-over-par 292 and is in fourth place at the Golfweek Conference Challenge on Sunday. The event is being played at the par 72, 7,301-yard Spirit Hollow Golf Club in Burlington, Iowa.
Junior Trevor Cone (Concord, N.C.) shot an even-par 72 and is tied for 11th place individually. He is three strokes behind leader Tyler Merkel of Ball State.
Sophomore Maclain Huge (Lovettesville, Va.) and junior Scott Vincent (Harare, Zimbabwe) are tied for 18th place with opening round 73s. Senior Bryce Chalkley (Richmond, Va.) is tied for 28th at 74 and freshman Drew Johnson (Oak Ridge, N.C.) is tied for 45th after a 76 on Sunday.
Houston leads after the first round, shooting a one-over-par 289 on Sunday. Oklahoma and New Mexico are tied for second at 290, two strokes ahead of the Hokies. Jacksonville State is fifth at 293, Winthrop is sixth at 295, Central Arkansas is seventh at 296 and Arizona is eighth at 297. Host Iowa is ninth at 298, Florida Gulf Coast and LSU are tied for 10th at 300 and Ball State is 12th at 303. Chattanooga is 13th at 305, Louisiana Tech is 14th at 306 and Texas State is 15th at 310.
The event boasts a field representing the top conferences in collegiate golf. Along with the Hokies, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Houston, Chattanooga, LSU and Ball State competed in the 2013 NCAA regionals. New Mexico, Oklahoma, LSU and Ball State advanced to the 2013 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship in Atlanta last season.
The second round will be played on Monday morning and the final round will be played on Tuesday.
For updates on Virginia Tech men's golf, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_MGolf).