MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. ? Austin Peay State University men's golf team sits in second place after firing a 298 in the opening round of the 2009 Ohio Valley Conference Championships played at the 7,188-yard “Fighting Joe” on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

Murray State leads the pack by nine strokes with a one-over par 289, while Jacksonville State is in third only one stroke behind the Govs at 299; Eastern Kentucky (304) and Tennessee Tech (309) round out the top five.

Sophomore Brian Balthrop led the Govs with a one-over par 73, putting him t-5th at two strokes behind the leader, JSU's Hunter Hawkins, who fired a one-under par 71. Balthrop's round was highlighted by a 20-yard pitch-in eagle on No. 12, which made him even with six holes to play. After three straight pars, he bogeyed No. 16 before paring his way out.

Junior Erik Barnes and sophomore Luke Sherrod are both t-9th, one stroke behind Balthrop, in a group of five players.

Barnes made it through the first four holes even, but carded a pair of bogeys on Nos. 5 and 6. He countered two bogeys with a pair of birdies on the back nine to finish with a two-over par 74. Sherrod, meanwhile, played a roller-coaster round that saw him three-over par through three holes, but back even with six to play. He bogeyed Nos. 14 and 18 to finish with a two-over par 74. Sherrod finished with four birdies and five bogeys.

Senior Matt Coles and junior Eric Anfinson round out the Govs score with a 77 and 81, respectively. Coles carded 13 pars, which was tied for second best on the course.

The Govs will be playing in the final group, Tuesday, for second-round action with their first tee time set for 9:40 a.m. Also in that group will be Murray State and host Jacksonville State.

-AP-