ORLANDO, Fla. - Chris Piumelli recorded the low score for the University of South Alabama men's golf team in each round on the opening day of the Rio Pinar Invitational, leaving him in the top 10 of the individual standings entering the final 18 holes.
After opening with 74 in the morning, the sophomore recorded a 1-under-par 71 in the afternoon round for a 1-over-par 145 total. He is in seventh place in the field of 95 individuals competing.
It's the third time in the last four rounds that Piumelli has posted a sub-par total.
"I'm very proud of Chris. He tweaked his back a couple of days ago and fought extremely hard today, he really played great," Jaguar head coach Ben Hannan commented. "Chris is starting to play like we feel he is capable of every time he tees it up."
The last round at the 7,001-yard, par-72 Rio Pinar Country Club will begin with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.
With team scores of 302 and 300, the Jaguars are one of four schools tied for 10th place among the 18 competing. Tournament host Central Florida - with three of the top four individuals - is the only team below par after recording a 7-under-par 569 total on the day. The Golden Knights' Brad Schneider is tied with Olafur Loftsson of Charlotte for the 36-hole individual lead at 3-under-par 141.
Jack Hiluta improved his score by four strokes in the second round, following up a 78 with a 74 and is tied for 50th place with a 152 total. Marc-Etienne Bussieres is one shot behind Hiluta after posting scores of 75 and 78, with David Leathem one stroke behind Bussieres with a 154 total - he carded rounds of 75 and 79. Christian Blanchet shot an 85 in the morning and a 77 in the afternoon.
Blake Kelley, who is participating as an individual, is tied with Leathem with a 36-hole score of 154 after bouncing back in the second round with a 75.
"As a group, each round we play is important," observed Hannan. "If we can bounce back and put a good round together, we can put ourselves in a position to pass some teams and help ourselves down the road."
Only six individuals shot under par on the day. In the team standings, Charlotte and North Texas are tied for second place, 15 strokes behind UCF.
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-
Rio Pinar Invitational
Rio Pinar Country Club, Orlando, Fla.
Par 72, 7,001 yards
Team Scores: 1) Central Florida 279-290-569 (-7); T2) Charlotte 291-293-584; T2) North Texas 291-293-584; 4) North Florida 293-297-590; 5) Liberty 295-299-594; 6) Middle Tennessee 289-307-596; 7) Toledo 296-301-597; T8) Miami (Ohio) 304-296-600; T8) Wichita State 298-302-600; T10) South Alabama 302-300-602; T10) Akron 299-303-602; T10) Louisiana-Lafayette 294-308-602; T10) Southern Mississippi 293-309-602; 14) South Florida 306-302-608; T15) Charleston 305-304-609; T15) Texas-Arlington 293-316-609; 17) Florida Atlantic 303-307-610; 18) Marquette 308-315-623.
Individual Leaders: T1) Brad Schneider, UCF 70-71-141 (-3); T1) Olafur Loftsson, Char 71-70-141; T3) Huno Henriques, UCF 68-74-142; T3) Simon Ward, UCF 71-71-142; T5) Corey Nagy, Char 70-73-143; T5) Max McKay, LU 72-71-143; 7) Chris Piumelli 74-71-145; T8) eight tied with 146.
South Alabama Scores: 7) Chris Piumelli 74-71-145 (+1); T50) Jack Hiluta 78-74-152; T55) Marc-Etienne Bussieres 75-78-153; T62) David Leathem 75-79-154; T62) Blake Kelley* 79-75-154; T88) Christian Blanchet 85-77-162.
*denotes competing as an individual
