MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Appalachian State University men's golf finished its first tournament of the season at Surf Golf & Beach Club on Tuesday. The Mountaineers placed seventh after posting a final round 296 for a total of 871.

James Madison claimed the 2016 Bash of the Beach title and had the first and second place finisher. Fellow Sun Belt school Arkansas State was the runner-up. Gardner Webb's Aaron Thomas aced the 13th hole in the final round.

Coming into the round with the lead, Patrick Moriarty shot a 76 and fell into a tie for ninth place. Alex Burris carded the low round of the day for the Mountaineers with a 71. Burris climbed into a tie for 43rd place. 

Jake Smith matched Moriarty's 76 and tied for 49th with a tournament total of 222. Chance Watson recorded a 79 in the final round of the tournament and finished tied for 53rd place. Caleb Keck shot his lowest round of the tournament on day two with a 73. Keck finished tied for 56th place.

After two rounds of play, the Mountaineers are in a tie for third place after shooting 292 in round one and 283 in round two for a total of 575.

App State was tied with Western Kentucky and Gardner-Webb. James Madison led the tournament with a team score of 563 and Arkansas State was in second with 566.

Moriarty shot the low round of day one and sat in first place with his career-low 65 in round two. Moriarty carded a 71 in round one for a total of 136 and had a one shot lead over Andrew Huseman of Arkansas State. The 65 tied a school record for lowest 18-hole score.

Watson shot two-over 73 followed by an even-par 71 on day one of tournament. Watson was in a tie for 20th place. Two strokes behind Watson was Smith. Smith carded rounds of 75 and 71 and was tied for 32nd place. 

Freshman Burris posted an opening round 73 followed by a second round 77 for a 150 day one total. Burris was currently tied for 52nd place. Right behind Burris, Keck shot a 151 with rounds of 75 and 76.  Keck was tied for 62nd place. 

Competing as an individual, Kyle Austin shot 230 over three rounds with a low round of 74 in round one. Austin finished tied for 82nd place.

The Mountaineers will be back in action on Sunday in Wilmington, N.C. at Cape Fear National. App State placed 2nd at Cape Fear National last season.