LOUDON, Tenn. - Senior Bence Kotel carded an even-par 70 to lead the Toledo men's golf team in Friday's opening round of Tennessee's Visit Knoxville Collegiate. The tournament is being played at the par-70, 7,201-yard Tennessee National Golf Club.

The Rockets bounced back from a rough start by tallying 14 birdies and an eagle on the back nine to finish the day tied with Iowa for 13^th place at six-over par.  Toledo shot 15-over par on the front nine before posting a scorching nine-under after the turn.

Kotel is tied for 30^th place after finishing his round strong. He tallied three birdies and three pars over his final six holes.

Junior transfer Solomon Petrie led the way for UT on the back nine with a four-under 32, thanks to four birdies and an eagle. He is tied for 40^th at one-over par.

Junior Mason Deal and senior Mads Jensen each tallied three birdies on the back nine and are tied for 53^rd and 62^nd place, respectively.

Toledo will play the second round of the tournament tomorrow with the third and final round slated for Sunday.

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Tennessee 265 (-15); 2. Charlotte 268 (-12); 3. Georgia Tech 270 (-10); 4. Kentucky 274 (-6); T5. Ole Miss 278 (-2); T5. Virginia Tech 278 (-2); 7. LSU 279 (-1); 8. ETSU 280 (E); 9. Chattanooga 281 (+1); 10. Loyola Marymount 284 (+4); T11. N.C. State 285 (+5); T11. College of Charleston 285 (+5); T13. TOLEDO 286 (+6); T13. Iowa 286 (+6); 15. Augusta 289 (+9); 16. North Florida 293 (+13)

TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS
1. Chase Cline (Charlotte) 64 (-6); 2. Evan Rogers (Chattanooga) 65 (-5); T3. Kale Fontenot (GT) 66 (-4); T3. Luke Coyle (Kentucky) 66 (-4); T3. Bruce Murphy (Tenn.) 66 (-4); T3. Lance Simpson (Tenn.) 66 (-4); T3. Chase Kyes (Tenn.) 66 (-4)

TOLEDO INDIVIDUALS
T30. Bence Kotel 70 (E); T40. Solomon Petrie 71 (+1); T53. Mason Deal 72 (+2); T62. Mads Jensen 73 (+3); T89. Rasmus Gross 80 (+10)