PHILADELPHIA, PA – Junior Sebastian Backlund shot an opening-round 72 to lead Francis Marion University to a 14th-place showing after the opening day of the Philadelphia Big 5 Tournament, Saturday (Oct. 8).

FMU registered a 302 team score and stands only three strokes out of the Top 10.  The 22-team tournament is being played on the par-70, 6,600-yard Plymouth Country Club course.  The final 18 holes will be played on Sunday.

Dartmouth leads the field with a 286 tally, while Pennsylvania is second at 290 and Campbell is third at 292.

Backlund is tied for ninth in the players' standings following his opening round that included four birdies.  Junior Kenneth Svanum is tied for 48th after carding a 76 on Saturday, while sophomore Fredrik Sporck and freshman Austin Frick are among a group tied for 59th after shooting 77 scores.  Junior Travis Gantt is tied for 85th with an 80 score.

Ben Cooley of Penn leads the players' standings after shooting a three-under-par 67.