Terry Sanford senior Ethan Paschal holds a one-stroke lead over the field after the first day of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A boys golf state championship at Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Southern Pines.

Paschal shot a 66 in the first round, which is 6-under par and one stroke ahead of Stuart Cramer’s Rich Wills and J.H. Rose’s Lake Williams. It also helped Terry Sanford edge out J.H. Rose with a two-stroke lead in the team standings after day one.

The front nine was smooth sailing for Paschal; he started the round with a birdie on the first hole, and also recorded back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth holes. The fifth hole is tied for the longest on the course — a 532-yard par 5.

Paschal’s back nine was more eventful. He recorded bogeys on the 13th and 15th holes, but five birdies on the back nine helped him take the day one lead.

Wills only recorded one bogey in his first round. The bogey came on the 17th hole, a 329-yad par 4. Wills had six birdies on the day, including three straight on holes 8-10.

Williams also only had one bogey in the round, which came on the fourth hole, a 186-yard par 3. Like Wills, he also recorded six birdies — three on the front nine, and three on the back nine.

Three golfers finished the day tied for fourth place with scores of 3-under. Thomas Horne of Terry Sanford, Will Spicer of Kings Mountain, and Cooper Burris of Northwest Cabarrus each scored a 69 in the first round. 12 golfers finished the day under par.

Terry Sanford’s team finished the day at 6-under with a score of 282, narrowly beating out J.H. Rose’s team score of 284.

Paschal and Horne led the way for Terry Sanford, but Taft Courie, a freshman, finished the first round at even par with a 72. Joining Williams under par in the first round for J.H. Rose was senior Will Guidry, who was 1-under on the day with a score of 71.

Stuart Cramer (301), Oak Grove (308), and Kings Mountain (308) round out the top five in the team standings.

The second and final day of the 3A boys golf state championship will take place on Tuesday in Southern Pines.

3A Boys Golf Individual Leaderboard: Day 1

1. Ethan Paschal (Terry Sanford) | 66 (-6)

T2. Rich Wills (Stuart Cramer) | 67 (-5)

T2. Lake Williams (J.H. Rose) | 67 (-5)

T4. Thomas Horne (Terry Sanford) | 69 (-3)

T4. Will Spicer (Kings Mountain) | 69 (-3)

T4. Cooper Burris (Northwest Cabarrus) | 69 (-3)

T7. Jospeh Royster (Lake Norman Charter) | 71 (-1)

T7. Alex Bock (Freedom) | 71 (-1)

T7. Jaden Sprinkle (East Rowan) | 71 (-1)

T7. Will Guidry (J.H. Rose) | 71 (-1)

T7. Brady Carroll (South Johnston) | 71 (-1)

T7. Warren Stiglitz (East Lincoln) | 71 (-1)

3A Boys Golf Team Leaderboard: Day 1

1. Terry Sanford | 282 (-6)

2. J.H. Rose | 284 (-4)

3. Stuart Cramer | 301 (+13)

T4. Oak Grove | 308 (+20)

T4. Kings Mountain | 308 (+20)

6. Southern Alamance | 309 (+21)

7. Northwest Cabarrus | 310 (+22)

T8. South Johnston | 317 (+29)

T8. Lake Norman Charter | 317 (+29)

10. North Lincoln | 319 (+31)

Source: highschoolot.com