Georgia freshman Trent Phillips from Boiling Springs share the first round lead at the SEC championship.

Boiling Springs High School grad Trent Phillips has a share of the lead after the first round of the SEC championship. The Georgia freshman shot a 5-under par 65 on the par-70 Sea Island Club course,

Philips shares the lead with Will Gordon of Vanderbilt.

“This is a course you have to play for what it is,” Phillips said. “You can’t cut corners or take risks because it’s not worth it. You have to play solid and play the course for what it gives you,” he said.

Phillip’s effort helped the Bulldogs to tie with Auburn for the team lead going into the second round.

Georgia and Auburn each shot a team total of 272 to tie on top of the leaderboard.

South Carolina is in 6th place after shooting a 1-under par 279. Will Miles and Caleb Proveaux are tied at 15th.

“It was a solid first round and I thought the team was really consistent throughout most of the day,” said head coach Bill McDonald. “The pins were pretty difficult for the most part and making birdies was tricky considering we didn’t have a lot of wind. We’re in good position to make a move tomorrow, and I expect the team to come out ready for the challenge,” he said.

Phillips isn’t the only player with Upstate connections to be among the leaders in the championship. Former Easley High School golfer Trace Crowe is tied with the two Gamecocks in 15the place.

After Phillips’ 5-under par total Spencer Ralston carded a 67 and Davis Thompson shot a 69 to give the Bulldogs three players in the top-15.

“I thought our team came out ready to play. We stuck with what we’ve been doing, especially our wedge game, and it really paid off today,”said Phillips.

Former Easley High School golfer Trace Crowe helped Auburn to share the lead at the SEC championship. (File Photo)

“It was a solid first round and I thought the team was really consistent throughout most of the day,” said head coach Bill McDonald. “The pins were pretty difficult for the most part and making birdies was tricky considering we didn’t have a lot of wind. We’re in good position to make a move tomorrow, and I expect the team to come out ready for the challenge.”

The teams will play two more rounds of stroke play to crown an individual champion. The top eight teams will then begin a match play  playoff to determine the team champion.

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