ROCKY FACE, Ga. – Cal (296, +8) began its 2017-18 campaign Friday by playing in the Carpet Capital Collegiate for the first time in school history and is in 11th place after the opening round of the event being hosted by Virginia at the par-72, 7012-yard The Farm Golf Club.

Four players not on Cal's active roster were the scorers for the Golden Bears led by KK Limbhasut, who is tied for ninth after an opening-round one-under par 71. Kaiwen Liu shot a one-over par 73 while Jamie Cheatham (74, +2) is tied for 32nd and Sebastian Crampton (78, +6) is tied for 66th. Limbhasut, Cheatham and Crampton have all returned in 2017-18 after redshirting last season while Liu was a heralded junior and prep golfer making his prep debut. Finigan Tilly (83, +11) was also in the Bears' opening day lineup and is tied for 80th.

"It was an exciting day to be back for three of us," Limbhasut said about the returning trio of redshirts that all birdied their opening hole. "I missed competing for Cal and couldn't wait for what is to come this season."

Limbhasut, Liu and Cheatham each had a team-high-tying four birdies.

Limbhasut picked up hjs four birdies in his round including both his opening hole on the par-four 10th and final hole on the par-five ninth when he nailed a 30-foot putt. He also birdied the par-four 18th and par-five third while his bogeys came on the par-four 14th, par-five second and par-three eighth.

Liu matched Limbhasut's four birdies and rebounded from a double-bogey six on the first hole of his collegiate career on the 10th. His birdies came on the par-three 11th, par-four 14th and 16th and par-five ninth. His three bogeys were on the par-five 12th and back-to-back on the par-four sixth and seventh.

Cheatham's four birdies came on three par-fours (10, 14, 1) and a par-five (9) while he had bogeys on a par-five (15) and a pair of par-fours (16, 3) in addition to a triple-bogey six on the par-three eighth.

Crampton had a pair of par-four birdies (10, 4) and another on the par-three 13th while his four bogeys came on the par-five 12th, par-four 14th and 18th, and par-three fifth. His round was marred by a double-bogey the par-five second and a triple-bogey on the same par-three eighth that Cheatham tripled.

Tilly mustered a lone bogey on the par-four seventh while he had four bogeys (15, 4, 5, 9) and four doubles (14, 16, 3, 8).

 "Today we had our ups and downs," Alex and Marie Shipman Director of Men's Golf Walter Chun said. "The Farm Golf Club is a great test of golf, and we just had a few hiccups that were costly. It was very nice to see KK, Jamie and Sebastian back in the lineup for us. I could tell they were glad to be back. As for Kaiwen, he showed a lot of grit fighting back from a tough start. We have our work cut out for us the new two days but this group can make up ground."

Florida (281, -7) is on top of the team leaderboard after 18 holes with Tennessee (282, -6) and Georgia Tech (287, -1) the other squads under par. Florida's Alejandro Tosti (66, -6) is the first-round individual leader.
Saturday's second-round action begins at 8 am ET/5 am PT, while Cal playing along in threesomes with Clemson and Kennesaw State will start at 9:17 am ET/6:17 am PT.

Cal is playing without All-American Collin Morikawa, who is competing for Team USA against Great Britain & Ireland on Saturday and Sunday in the 46th Walker Cup at The Los Angeles Country Club.
 

CARPET CAPITAL COLLEGIATE (HOSTED BY VIRGINIA)
ROCKY FACE, GA
THE FARM GOLF CLUB (PAR 72, 7012 YARDS)
 
TEAM LEADERBOARD (after 1 of 3 days/1 of 3 rounds/18 of 54 holes)

1. Florida (281, -7)
2. Tennessee (282, -6)
3. Georgia Tech (287, -1)
4. Auburn (289, +1)
T5. LSU (292, +4)
T5. South Carolina (292, +4)
7. Dalton State (293, +5)
T8. North Florida (294, +6)
T8. Alabama (294, +6)
10. Clemson (295, +7)
11. California (296, +8)
12. Kennesaw State (298, +10)
13. Virginia (303, +15)
14. Troy (308, +20)
15. Chattanooga (314, +26)
 

PLAYER LEADERBOARD – INDIVIDUAL LEADER (after 1 of 3 days/1 of 3 rounds/18 of 54 holes)

1. Alejandro Tosti – Florida (66, -6)
 

PLAYER LEADERBOARD – CAL INDIVIDUALS (after 1 of 3 days/1 of 3 rounds/18 of 54 holes)

T9. KK Limbhasut (71, -1)
T22. Kaiwen Liu (73, +1)
T32. Jamie Cheatham (74, +2)
T66. Sebastian Crampton (78, +6)
80. Finigan Tilly (83, +11)