MADISON, Miss. ? Down a man after Jack Hiluta was forced to withdraw, the University of South Alabama men’s golf team is in a tie for 13th place after the opening two rounds of the Reunion Intercollegiate.
Marc-Etienne Bussieres carded rounds of 75 and 77 at the par-72, 7,416-yard Reunion Golf and Country Club, as he will enter the second day of competition tied for 12th place with a total of 152.
Daniel Burns also posted a pair of scores in the 70s, shooting a 77 in the morning followed by a 79 in the afternoon. He is tied for 36th going into the final 18 holes with a 156 total.
Hiluta had been the Jaguars’ top finisher in each of the team’s last two events, including a third-place performance at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate. He shot an 83 in the first round before withdrawing from the event.
“The wind was gusting, the weather was cold ? the conditions made the course difficult,” Jaguar head coach Ben Hannan stated. “Marc and Daniel are really battling, which is all you can do in conditions like this. David [Leathem] played well from tee to green too.
“Jack has an ear infection and tonsillitis. He finished the first round on pure guts, but was not in a position to play.”
Cody Klein recorded a 167 score over the two rounds and Leathem shot a 171.
USA totaled a 316 over the first 18 holes, but without the services of Hiluta had a team score of 325 in the afternoon round.
No. 25 Louisiana State leads the 15-team field with a 596 score, three strokes ahead of 19th-ranked Arkansas. No. 43 Vanderbilt is in third place six shots behind the Tigers, with no other school within 10 strokes of the Commodores.
Adam Hofmann of Vanderbilt is the only player under par in the field of 74 individuals after posting a 1-under-par 143 with rounds of 71 and 72. Arkansas’ Andrew Landry is one shot behind with a total of 144.
“Marc and Daniel have a chance to have nice tournaments individually,” Hannan added. “It doesn’t look like Jack is going to be able to go, so the pressure is on the four guys playing. This will be good training for the conference championships because every shot will count.”
The final day of the event is set to tee off at 8 a.m. Tuesday.
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?
Reunion Intercollegiate
Reunion Golf and Country Club, Madison, Miss.
Par 72, 7,416 yards
Team Scores: 1) Louisiana State 297-299?596 (+20); 2) Arkansas 297-302?599; 3) Vanderbilt 306-296?602; T4) North Florida 314-298?612; T4) Southern Mississippi 311-301?612; 6) Mississippi 311-303?614; 7) Auburn 313-302?615; 8) UNC-Greensboro 309-312?621; T9) Mississippi State 309-313?622; T9) UAB 309-313?622; 11) Southeastern Louisiana 319-309?628; 12) Memphis 317-317?634; T13) South Alabama 316-325?641; T13) Louisiana Tech 322-319?641; 15) Jackson State 326-324?650.
Individual Leaders: 1) Adam Hofmann, Vandy 71-72?143 (-1); 2) Andrew Landry, Ark 72-72?144; T3) John Peterson, LSU 72-75?147; T3) Sean Dale, Miss 76-71?147; 5) Glenn Northcutt, AU 76-73?149; T6) Zach Sucher, UAB 74-76?150; T6) Clayton Rotz, LSU 76-74?150; T8) four individuals with 151.
South Alabama Scores: T12) Marc-Etienne Bussieres 75-77?152 (+8); T36) Daniel Burns 77-79?156; T72) Cody Klein 81-86?167; 74) David Leathem 88-83?171; -) Jack Hiluta, USA 83-WD.
