BUIES CREEK, N.C.– Former Campbell men's golf standouts Brad Fritsch ('00) and David Mathis ('94) returned to the area this week for the Nationwide Tour stop. They are competing in the Rex Hospital Open at TPC Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh.

Mathis shot a two-over 73 in Thursday's first round, while Fritsch carded a three-over 74. Live scoring is available on-line at www.pgatour.com.

Fritsch, a Manotick, Ontario native, is in his first year on the Nationwide, one step below the PGA Tour. He played on the Canadian Tour from 2001-06, qualified for the 2006 U.S. Open and played in last year's Canadian Open. He also finished third in the '06 Canadian Tour Championship.

This season, Fritsch entered the Rex Hospital Open tied for 32nd on the Nationwide Tour in driving distance. He ranks 120th on the tour's money list while participating in 11 events. Fritsch's best finish was a 14th-place tie at the Jacobs Creek Open Championship.

During his Fighting Camel career, Fritsch was twice honored as a Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). He earned Trans America Athletic Conference All-Academic honors in each of his four years at CU and was a second-team All-TAAC selection as a senior when he finished ninth in the 2000 league championship.

A native of Lexington, N.C., Mathis now resides in Raleigh, where TPC Wakefield Plantation is his home course. He stands 109th on the '07 Nationwide money list in five events and is 18th in scoring average. Last month, Mathis shot a 62 in the third round and finished 13th in the BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs in Travelers Rest, S.C.

Mathis enjoyed his best finish on the 2006 Nationwide Tour at the Rex Hospital Open, where he finished 14th overall. He earned his Nationwide Tour card for 2006 after playing 2001-2005 on the Canadian Tour. He finished fourth on the 2005 CanTour money list. Mathis was an All-Big South Conference performer in 1993 and 1994 when he led the Camels to back-to-back league titles.