NINETY-SIX, S.C. – Highlighted by Lane Hite's (Clarksville, Va./Bluestone) round of two-over 74, the Radford men's golf team sits in fifth place following the opening round of the 2009 Big South Championships Monday.

The 54-hole event hosted by Coastal Carolina is being played on the Par 72, 7,079-yard Patriot Club layout.

Hite, who went out in one-under 35, carded a 39 on his inward nine to find himself in a tie for third with 36 holes remaining.

Freshman Paul Woodson (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) sits tied for 15th following a five-over 77, while Kyle Bailey (Fincastle, Va./James River) also made the turn at one-under, but finished in six-over to sit one back of Woodson in a tie for 21st.

Also competing for the Highlanders are Chris Dillow (Bland, Va./Bland) and Michael Wade (Floyd, Va./Floyd), who are currently tied for 35th and 38th, respectively.

After playing the front nine in a combined eight-over par, Radford finished its first round with a team total of 312 (+24), placing them 15 strokes off the pace. Despite its place in the team standings, just eight strokes separate the Highlanders and second place.

Coastal Carolina, which was the only squad to break 300 this afternoon, holds a seven shot lead over Gardner-Webb in the team standings.

Of the 45 competitors, Winthrop's Cipriano Ayala was the only golfer to finish in par or better with an even-par 72.

Ayala is one stroke clear of Coastal Carolina' s David Dannelly, while six others opened with rounds of 74, including Hite.

Radford, which earned the league's third seed based on its current Golfweek national ranking played in groups of three with individuals from Coastal Carolina and Liberty.

The 2009 Big South Champion will earn the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Round two will begin Tuesday morning with final round tee times scheduled for Wednesday.