JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct 8, 2023) – Mats Ege made history in Sunday's opening round of the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate at the Blackthorn Club. 
 
Playing in unfavorable conditions with temperatures in the mid-50s and wind gusting at over 20 miles per hour for the majority of the day, Ege rose to the challenge and put together a flawless round. Ege fired a 10-under-par 62 en route to setting a new course, tournament and school record. 
 
Ege, who was named to the Haskins Award Preseason Watch List last month, carded 10 birdies and eight pars and holds a two-shot lead following first-round play of the 25th annual tournament. Ege's birdies came in bunches on Sunday as he opened with back-to-back birds and went back-to-back again on No. 4 and No. 5. The reigning Southern Conference Player of the Year kept it rolling as he posted four straight birdies from No. 8-11 and closed things out with back-to-back birdies on No. 13 and No. 14. 
 
"It feels good," said Ege, following Sunday's first round. "Things were going my way today – especially with my ball striking. I got off to a good start and it kept going. After I made a 40-footer for par on No. 12, I knew things were going well. I missed a short eagle putt on No. 14, which was a bit of bummer, but it also served as a reality check to humble me a little bit. I missed a few short putts on last few holes, but I can't complain because I made up for it over the first 14 holes. 
 
"Overall, it was solid. By far it was the coldest day we have had. We were bundled up and the wind was blowing. Being able to do that in these conditions was fun."
 
Ege left a shot or two out there on the course as he missed a six-foot birdie putt on No. 18; however, a solid birdie on No. 9 made the walk up the hill to No. 10 a lot easier. 
 
"I made 15-footer on nine," said Ege, when asked if he made any other long putts outside the 40-footer for par on No. 12. "It's a difficult hole, so it was really nice to see that go in." 
 
The previous tournament record of 9-under 63 was set by former Buccaneers Jack Rhea (2019), Shiso Go (2017 and 2018) and Louisville's Simon Zach (2018). Joining Rhea and Go with the previous program record of 9-under 63 were Remi Chartier (2022), Gudmundur Kristjansson (2014) and Rhys Davies (2004). 
 
"Playing in tournament conditions with tournament pins and in 50 degrees with wind blowing over 20 miles per hour, to shoot a course, tournament and school record is pretty impressive," said ETSU men's golf head coach Jake Amos. "Mats really kept us in the tournament today. He understands his game and knows what he's good at. With all of his maturity and experience, nothing phases him. He's well-prepared for each round. I am extremely proud of him."
 
Ege carried the Blue & Gold as Algot Kleen was the only other Buccaneer in the lineup to shoot below par. Kleen, last year's 18-hole leader, finished with a 3-under 69 and sits tied for seventh. 
 
ETSU's other two countable scores came from redshirt freshman Jenson Forrester and Remi Chartier.Forrester, playing in his first Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate, is tied for 58th at 3-over 75 and Chartier – who won last time out at the J.T. Poston Invitational – is tied for 75th at 5-over 77. 
 
The 11th-ranked Bucs are tied for second with Charlotte at 5-under 283, while Furman is atop the leaderboard at 10-under 278. Augusta (-3) and Coastal Carolina (-2) rounded out the top five teams. 
 
"We are not done yet," said Ege. "We are a little behind as a team, but I know the guys still have their best game left in them. It was very important for me to help the team and keep us in position to win the tournament. We are still in it and look forward to playing well tomorrow."
 
Ege has a two-stroke lead over Louisiana Tech's Niilo Maki-Petaja, while three golfers are tied for third at 5-under 67. 
 
"I'm looking forward to the next few days," said Ege. "I need to forget about what happened today. Tomorrow is a new day. It'll be hard to follow that up, but I look forward to going back out there and playing my game."
 
The Bucs also have three golfers playing as individuals. Archie Davies and Joshua Pritchett are tied for 32nd at 1-over 73 and Ben Carberry is tied for 82nd at 6-over. 
 
ETSU will once again tee off in Monday's second round starting at 10:10 a.m. The Bucs will be grouped with Furman and Charlotte. 
 
Live scoring is available via Golfstat.com.
  
For more information on ETSU men's golf, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's golf tab.