MADISON, Miss. – For the second time in as many years, University of South Alabama men’s golfer Lane Hulse led the Jaguars at Mississippi’s BancorpSouth Intercollegiate while finishing below par over 36 holes.

The sophomore tied for 14th place individually Tuesday with an even-par 72 on the final day of the tournament at the par-72, 7,305-yard Reunion Golf and Country Club, ending the rain-shortened event with a 1-under-par 143 two-round total.  Last spring, Hulse was second in the field while helping the Jaguars to the team title.

“This golf course requires playing with a confident putter.  The greens are pretty sloped and extremely fast,” stated USA head coach Ben Hannan.  “Lane putted great this week, he had good control of his golf ball.  I also think playing here before helped in his preparation, and comfort was a factor as well.”

Hulse had a bogey on his second hole of the second round, but got back to even par with a three at the 427-yard 16th.  His other birdie came on No. 10 — which played at 560 yards — for his seventh score of par or lower on the season.

It was his fourth top-20 finish of the year, a total that ranks second on the squad.

Michael Garretson and Tyler Klava each recorded a 74 over the second 18 holes, with the former tying for 45th place with a 148 two-round total and the latter tied for 49th one stroke behind.  All three of Garretson’s birdies came on the back side of the course, with two coming consecutively on Nos. 17 and 18 and his last of the tournament on the 10th hole.  Klava birdied two of the four par threes on the course, with his first coming at the 153-yard 15th and the second at No. 6, which played at 201 yards.

Parker Jones had birdies on Nos. 3 and 6, finishing the event tied with Klava overall after a second-round 78, while McLain Leberte also had a 78 on the final day to end with a 155 36-hole score.  Leberte carded four birdies on the day, with three coming at the third, 10th and 17th holes, all par fives.

Jonathan Fly of Memphis fired a 4-under-par 68 for the second straight day, earning medalist honors with an 8-under-par 136 total; the field included 80 individuals.

The Jags had a 298 team score in the second round, ending the tournament 12th out of 16 schools in the standings with a 589 total.  First-round leader Wichita State held on to take the team championship with a 10-under-par 566 score over 36 holes, defeating Central Arkansas by one shot.

USA will play at the Memphis Intercollegiate on Monday and Tuesday, the final event of the regular season.

“We’re still working the process, continuing to focus on patience and not trying to force low scores,” Hannan explained.  “We need to focus on the shot at hand and taking advantage of opportunities when we get them while trying to eliminate big numbers through good choices and execution.”

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

—USA—

BancorpSouth Intercollegiate
Reunion Golf and Country Club, Madison, Miss.
Par 72, 7,305 yards
Team Scores: 1) Wichita State 276-290—566 (-10); 2) Central Arkansas 282-285—567; T3) Central Florida 280-291—571; T3) UAB 283-288—571; T3) Memphis 285-286—571; T6) Southeastern Louisiana 284-290—574; T6) Middle Tennessee 285-289—574; 8) Missouri-Kansas City 293-287—580; T9) Mississippi 285-297—582; T9) Mississippi State 291-291—582; 11) Texas-Arlington 292-291—583; 12) South Alabama 291-298—589; 13) North Carolina-Greensboro 298-299—597; 14) Southern Mississippi 297-304—601; 15) Frances Marion 304-298—602; 16) Jackson State 297-310—607.

Individual Leaders: 1) Jonathan Fly, Mem 68-68—136 (-8); 2) Brad Schneider, UCF 68-70—138; T3) Austen Moix, UCA 67-72—139; T3) Hunter Hawkins, UAB 69-70—139; 5) David Morago, UCA 67-73—140; T6) Calvin Pearson, WSU 67-74—141; T6) Tyler Gann, WSU 71-70—141; T6) Philipp Westermann, SLU 70-71—141; T6) Chad Ramey, MSU 72-69—141; T10) four individuals with 142.

South Alabama Scores: T14) Lane Hulse 71-72—143 (-1); T45) Michael Garretson 74-74—148; T49) Tyler Klava 75-74—149; T49) Parker Jones 71-78—149; T72) McLain Leberte 77-78—155.