Troy's men's golf team kicked off the Sun Belt Championship with a strong performance highlighted by freshman Thomas Crane's hole-in-one on the 15th hole. The ace marked the first for Troy since 2017, placing Crane tied for fourth with a score of 2-under par. The team currently sits tied for sixth, just five shots off the critical fourth position needed to advance to match play. Coastal Carolina leads the tournament at 6-under, followed by Arkansas State at 4-under, with several teams within striking distance of the top four. Crane's performance, including four birdies overall, served as a bright spot in an otherwise competitive leaderboard.

By the Numbers
  • Crane finished with a score of 70 (2-under par), tying for fourth place.
  • Troy's team score was 294, placing them tied for sixth, five shots behind the critical fourth spot.
State of Play
  • Coastal Carolina leads the tournament at 282, followed by Arkansas State at 284.
  • Troy is currently tied with App State at 294, needing to close the gap to reach the top four.
  • The competition is tight, with the top seven teams within five shots of fourth place.
What's Next

As the championship progresses, Troy will need consistent performances from its players to secure a top-four finish. With Crane's momentum, the team hopes to close the gap and advance to match play on Thursday.

Bottom Line

Troy's strong start, propelled by Crane's hole-in-one, places them in a competitive position, but they must maintain focus to move into match play contention. Success will depend on minimizing mistakes and leveraging their scoring opportunities effectively.