The William and Mary men's golf team opened play at the 2012 Colonial Athletic Association Championships in seventh place on Friday, shooting 310 (+26) for the day.  The Tribe is only 10 strokes off the lead, and five strokes away from third place on the challenging Wilmington Country Club course, which is playing with a par of 71 and at 7,043 yards.  Georgia State has a one stroke lead over UNCW after the first day, while Marc Dobias of VCU is the individual leader at 1-under (70).

Leading the way for W&M was freshman Charlie Kern (Seattle, Wash.), who is tied for fifth after shooting 74 (+3).  Kern is the tournament's best player on par-5 holes, birdying all three in the round.  Sophomore Tanner Taddeo (Hendersonville, Tenn.) is tied for 16th overall at 77 (+6), and freshman Alex Hicks (Cape May Court House, N.J.) is one stroke back in a tie for 25th.  Junior Jeremy Wells (Hopewell, Va.) shot 81 (+10) to tie for 41st overall, one stroke ahead of sophomore Michael Bekken (Blacksburg, Va.) who is tied for 47th.

The CAA Championships continue with rounds each of the next two days.  The winner fo the team championship will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Regional round.

2012 Colonial Athletic Association Championships - 54 Holes
Wilmington Country Club - Par 71, 7,043 Yards

Team Standings
1. Georgia State 300 (+16)
2. UNCW 301 (+17)
3. VCU 305 (+21)
4. James Madison 306 (+22)
5. Old Dominion 307 (+23)
6. George Mason 308 (+24)
7. William and Mary 310 (+26)
8. Delaware 312 (+28)
9. Towson 314 (+30)
T10. Drexel 321 (+37)
T10. Hofstra 321 (+37)

Top Five Players
1. Marc Dobias (VCU) 70 (-1)
2. Damon Stephenson (GSU) 71 (E)
T3. Payne McLeod (UNCW) 72 (+1)
T3. Greg Matthias (UD) 72 (+1)
T5. Charlie Kern (W&M) 74 (+3)
T5. Ryan Nagy (UNCW) 74 (+3)

Other W&M Players
T16. Tanner Taddeo 77 (+6)
T25. Alex Hicks 78 (+7)
T41. Jeremy Wells 81 (+10)
T47. Michael Bekken 82 (+11)