It was a rough start for the Fort Dale Eagles at the Alabama Independent Schools Association's state golf tournament at Cambrian Ridge Monday as the team shot a combined score of 352 to put them 52 strokes behind the first place team of Lee-Scott Academy and tied with Sparta Academy for sixth place.

Eagles' golf coach Reggie Mantooth said a windy day one was rough.

&#8220We definitely struggled a little bit and I think some of our guys are a little nervous playing in the state tournament,” he said. &#8220We just played a little tight on the front nine, but we loosened up a little on the back side.”

Fort Dale's number one player, Will Farrar, who carded two double bogeys on the front nine and shot Fort Dale's low round of the day said it's all about making birdies.

&#8220I wasn't quite as smooth as I wanted it to be,” he said. &#8220I missed a couple of long birdie putts and didn't make a birdie all day.”

One of Farrar's double bogeys came on no. 2 Loblolly, a 346 yard par 4.

&#8220I hit it too far and hit into a bunker behind the green and didn't hit a good bunker shot,” he said.

Farrar shot a six over 41 on the front, but settled down on the back to shoot a three over 39 to finish with an 80.

One factor Monday was a strong breeze, which lingered after soaking rains Sunday night.

&#8220The wind blew a little bit today and the grass was still wet from the rain so the ball didn't roll as far,” Mantooth said. &#8220It's always a tough course, but it played a little tougher today.”

Following Farrar for Fort Dale was Ben Bates with an 88, Lister Crosby with a 91, Cody Norman with a 93 and Sanders Hancock with a 94.

The low round of the day came from Lee-Scott's Clay Guerin who shot a one over 72 and leads Macon-East's Hunter Sanders by two strokes.

See Saturday's edition of The Greenville Advocate for final scores and a tournament wrap up.