PALM CITY, Fla. - UNCG men's golf finished 18-under par (270) through round one at the Martin Downs Collegiate in Palm CIty, Fla. on Friday. Atop the standings, they hold a six-shot lead over James Madison (-12) heading into the weekend. The Spartans' first round performance is a leap from last year's first round score of five-over par (293) at Osprey Creek. 

Senior Jonathan Brightwell carried momentum from the fall into the spring season, bringing his A-game to the sunshine state, with a program best 10-under compared to par and tying the UNCG single-round record score of 62. Ranked as the eighth-best collegiate male golfer in the nation, he leads at Martin Downs ahead of four players tied for second at six-under. Brightwell was in the zone, sinking three straight birdies (11,12,13), along with eagles at holes three and 16. 

In individual play, UNCG's Jack Marcotte shot an opening round 5-under, right behind Elon's Bronson Myer's at six-under. Marcotte also dropped an Eagle at hole three. He wrapped up day one with a birdie at 18. 

Junior Nick Lyerly got out to a hot start on the front nine for the Spartans. He hung in the top three in the standings, sinking four birdies (2,3,6,8) and closed out round one with a four-under 68. Zack Swanson (68), Justin Emmons (72) and Noah Connor (72) rounded out group play for UNCG. 

The second round will begin tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. Live stats will be available through Golfstat.com.