STATESBORO, GA. – Edwin Blomander is tied for fourth individually and Campbell is ninth on the team leader board after Friday's opening round of the 42nd Schenkel Invitational at Forest Heights Country Club.
 
Host Georgia Southern (273) leads the 15-team field at 15-under par heading into Saturday's second round.  No. 17 Notre Dame, No. 50 West Virginia and Cincinnati are tied for second at 5-under 283.  Campbell is at 1-under-par 287, one shot in front of No. 39 UAB, No. 47 Florida Gulf Coast and Middle Tennessee through 18 holes.
 
Blomander's day included seven birdies and three bogeys.  He is two strokes behind leader Kieron van Wyk of College of Charleston (66) and one shy of Georgia Southern's Brantley Baker and Davis Chatfield of Notre Dame (67) on the par-72, 7123-yard Forest Heights layout.
 
Campbell's Henrik Lilja is tied for 11th at 2-under-par 70, while Henric Bjelke is tied for 28th at even-par 72.  Lilja made three birdies and 14 pars Friday.  The only blemish on his scorecard was a bogey on the par-4 second hole.  Bjelke's day included five birdies and five bogeys.
 
Alejandro Cogollo (77) and Claude Churchward (78) are tied for 75th and 78th, respectively, in the 87-golfer field.
 
Campbell will be paired with Kentucky and Virginia Tech Saturday and start from the first tee at 9:00 a.m.  The 54-hole event concludes Sunday.
 
42nd Schenkel Invitational
Statesboro, Ga. / Forest Heights CC
Mar. 18-20, 2022 / Par 72, 7123 Yards

First Round Team Results: 1. Georgia Southern 273, T2. West Virginia 283, T2. Notre Dame 283, T2. Cincinnati 283, T5. Furman 285, T5. College of Charleston 285, T7. Virginia Tech 286, T7. Kentucky 286, 9. Campbell 287, T10. Florida Gulf Coast 288, T10. UAB 288, T10. Middle Tennessee 288, 13. Iowa 290, 14. Wisconsin 290, 15. Army West Point 303.
 
First Round Individual Leaders: 1. Kieron van Wyk (CofC) 66, T2. Brantley Baker (Georgia Southern) 67, T2. Davis Chatfield (Notre Dame) 67, T4. Edwin Blomander (Campbell) 68, T4. Drew Brockwell (VT) 68, T4. Sam Lape (Furman) 68, T4. Mason Williams (Georgia Southern) 68.
 
Other Campbell Individuals: T11. Henrik Lilja 70, T28. Henric Bjelke 72, T75. Alejandro Cogollo 77, T78. Claude Churchward 78.
 
The Course: Forest Heights CC (Par 72, 7123 Yards)
Recognized as one of the finest courses in the Southeast, Forest Heights Country Club is host to the Schenkel Invitational, which draws top teams from around the country. Forest Heights is also the site of the annual Southeastern Amateur Golf tournament and has hosted the Southern Conference tournament and the Georgia State Golf Association Four-Ball tournament.  Opened in 1947, the greens were rebuilt to USGA specifications under the direction of Bob Cupp in 1993. 
 
The Schenkel Invitational
Named for Georgia Southern alum and hall of fame broadcaster Chris Schenkel, the Schenkel Invitational has been a proving ground for some of the game's best players with names like Jay Haas, Andy Bean, Jerry Pate, Andy North, Bob Tway, Scott Verplank, Curtis Strange, Hal Sutton, Mark Calcavecchia, Bill Haas, Billy Horschel, Bubba Watson and Justin Thomas.  Past Schenkel Invitational participants have gone on to win 15 majors, most recently Thomas at the 2017 PGA Championship, and 276 PGA TOUR titles.