VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men's golf team had four of five individuals in the lineup break par in the second of two rounds Monday at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, leading to the Jaguars' low 18-hole score of the year.
Rasmus Karlsson posted a career-low 3-under-par 67 in the afternoon, Sylas Elliott, Jason Mendel and Brooks Rabren each carded a 69, and Yannick Schütz added a 71 as the Jags finished with a 274 group score, an improvement of 17 strokes from their total over the opening 18 holes.
Rabren also shot par in the morning round to end the day in a tie for 16th with a 1-under-par 139 while Karlsson is also among the top 20 entering the final 18 holes of the tournament one shot behind the junior. USA stands seventh among the 12 teams competing with a score of 565 after 36 holes.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Event (host): Old Overton Country Club (Alabama)
Date: 10/9
Course: Old Overton Country Club (par 70, 7,209 yds)
Live scoring: http://results.golfstat.com//public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=participants&tid=13919
TEAM SCORES
1) Alabama 271-273—544 (-16); 2) Baylor 269-277—546; 3) Brigham Young 280-271—551; 4) Arkansas 286-269—555; 5) Auburn 282-278—560; 6) UNLV 277-285—562; 7) South Alabama 291-274—565; 8) Alabama-Birmingham 287-283—570; 9) Michigan 288-285—573; 10) Mississippi State 286-288—574; 11) Charlotte 287-290—577; 12) Samford 295-291—586.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1) Mason Overstreet, Ark 65-65—130 (-10); 2) Kyle Mueller, UM 68-63—131; 3) Lee Hodges, Bama 67-65—132; 4) Braden Bailey, BU 64-69—133; T5) Matthew Perrine, BU 68-66—134; T5) Peter Kuest, BYU 68-66—134; T7) Davis Shore, Bama 69-67—136; T7) Jack Trent, UNLV 67-769—136; T9) four individuals with 137.
SOUTH ALABAMA SCORES
T16) Brooks Rabren 70-69—139 (-1); T19) Rasmus Karlsson 73-67—140; T23) Sylas Elliott 72-69—141; T35) Jason Mendel 76-69—145; T43) Yannick Schütz 76-71—147.
TEE SHOTS
-The Jaguars' second-round 274 was one shot shy of matching the best team 18-hole score on record since the beginning of the 1992-93 campaign.
-It was USA's best 18-hole total since carding a 274 in the second round of the Palmer's Toyota Fall Intercollegiate on Sept. 15, 2008.
-Rasmus Karlsson (67) and Yannick Schütz (71) each shot a career-low 18-hole score in the afternoon, while Jason Mendel (69) matched his career-low round recorded on three previous occasions.
-Brooks Rabren's second-round 69 was his best 18-hole total of the season.
-Both Sylas Elliott and Karlsson have shot par or better three times this fall, best on the squad.
-Elliott (-1) and Karlsson (E) are among the top five in the field of 60 individuals in par-three scoring.
-The quartet of Elliott, Karlsson, Mendel and Rabren carded six birdies apiece on the opening day of play, while Schütz is among the top five individually with 26 pars.
-The Jaguars had a 3.18 stroke average on par three holes as a team, tied for the best mark in the field.
THEY SAID IT
Head coach Ben Hannan
On the Jaguars' play on the first day of the tournament: "After the first two events we've been working on — as simple as it seems — just playing golf, focusing on what you can control, hitting the shot in front of you and executing to the best of your ability. That's what they did today, they were able to put their efforts into the shot in front of them which helped every individual execute at a high level."
On the team's performance in the second round: "In the morning round we started off on hole No. 10, and holes 10-12 is arguably the hardest stretch on this golf course. In the afternoon they re-teed and we went off on No. 1, where there are some birdie opportunities early, and everybody got off to a good start. They just kept the momentum going after starting the way they did, they continued to pluck along and were really patient; they just executed and played. When they missed a green they got up and down, all five played very good golf. Any time you can throw out a 71 as a group, that is outstanding golf as a team."
On Tuesday's final round: "The guys have been playing really well at home, this is the first round where they have mirrored what they have done at home in a tournament — we knew we were capable of this with the talent this team has. Heading into tomorrow, it is just about focusing on what you can control and the shot in front of you, keeping your head up and continuing to fight to maximize your talent to the best of your ability."
Up next: The final round will get underway Tuesday at 8 a.m. (CDT) with pairings on both the first and 10th tees
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Join the Birdie Club — the men's golf specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Birdie Club go directly to support the South Alabama men's golf program. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/birdieclub.
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