SOUTHPORT—Kevin O’Connell of Morrisville Green Hope fired a one-under par 71 on Monday to hold a two-shot advantage over the field after the first day of the 71st annual North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 4-A men’s golf championships at the Reserve Club at St. James Plantation.

The championship is being contested on a par-72 layout set at 6,500 yards or the NCHSAA event.

O’Connell holds a two-shot advantage over five golfers tied at 73. That group includes Green Hope teammate Will Almand, Adam Stephenson of Greenville Rose, Russell Burke of Southern Pines Pinecrest, Josh Brock of Wilmington New Hanover and Jordan Walor of Wake Forest-Rolesville.

Almand finished in a tie for seventh in the individual standings a year ago as he helped lead Green Hope to the 2006 team title.

Green Hope has a six-stroke advantage over Pinecrest in the team standings in an effort to repeat, with Wake Forest-Rolesville in third at 309 and Charlotte Myers Park in fourth at 312.

The best four of six individual scores count toward the team total.

Prior to 1986, all NCHSAA schools competed for a single title in an open tournament. Play went to three classifications in 1986 and then to four classes beginning with the 1998 tournaments.

A total of 84 golfers began play in the two-day tournament. Action will resume at eight o’clock on Tuesday morning.

Wendy’s and the Carolinas Ford Dealers are the presenting sponsors of the NCHSAA sports program.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

MEN’S 4-A GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Reserve Club at St. James Plantation, Southport

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Morrisville Green Hope 297

2. Southern Pines Pinecrest 303

3. Wake Forest-Rolesville 309

4. Charlotte Myers Park 312

5. Wilmington Hoggard 315

6. Raleigh Broughton 316

7. Matthews David Butler 319

Charlotte Providence 319

9. Northwest Guilford 327

10. Greensboro Page 329

11. Wilmington New Hanover 332

12. East Forsyth 338

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

1. Kevin O’Connell, Morrisville Green Hope 71

2. Adam Stephenson, Greenville Rose 73

Russell Burke, Southern Pines Pinecrest 73

Will Almand, Morrisville Green Hope 73

Josh Brock, Wilmington New Hanover 73

Jordan Walor, Wake Forest-Rolesville 73

7. Jake Colley, Apex Middle Creek 74

Nik Peterson, Charlotte Providence 74

Daniel Meggs, Matthews David Butler 74

10. Paul Shorkey, Charlotte Myers Park 75

Justin Evans, Southern Pines Pinecrest 75

James Meade, Wake Forest-Rolesville 75

Harrison Ashworth, Fuquay-Varina 75

Chason Trahan, South Mecklenburg 75