JAMAICA, N.Y. -- The St. Johns University mens golf team shot a 17-over par 305 and stands in a tie for 24th place after the first round of the NCAA East Regional, being held at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club in Williamsburg, Virginia. East Tennessee State, who was paired with the Red Storm during the first round and is ranked 18th nationally, fired a 14-under par 274 and owns a two-shot lead over eighth-ranked Florida in the field of 27 teams.

Georgia is in third place, four shots off the pace at 10-under par 278, followed by North Carolina State (seven-under par 281) in fourth and BIG EAST Champion Virginia Tech stands fifth at six-under par 282.

The top 10 teams, as well as the top two individuals not from those schools, advance to the NCAA Championships at Duke Universitys Golf Club next week.

St. Johns was led by sophomore Andrew Svoboda (Harrison, N.Y./Mamaroneck), who carded a two-under par 70 and stands in a tie for 16th place.

He is six shots off the pace of Florida freshman Camilo Villegas, who was one of four players to break the course record on Thursday. Villegas owns a two-shot lead after blistering the course with an eight-under par 64. Four players tied the course record of four-under par 68.

Other Red Storm finishers include sophomore Jesse Fitzgerald (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville), who is tied for 117th place at six-over par 78 with senior teammate Andrew McKay (Collingwood, Ontario/Collegiate Institute). Junior Joe Saladino (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) is tied for 125th place at seven-over par 79 and freshman Mike Smith (Rye, N.Y./Rye Country Day) is in 140th place at 12-over par 84.

The second round will be held on Friday, and the regional will conclude on Saturday.