Spartans Third After First Round Of NCAA Nationals
7/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 22, 2007
Allendale, Mich. - The USC Upstate men's golf team got five solid performances, including a 1-over-par effort from Tyler Tucker, to finish the day tied for third after the first round of the four-round NCAA Division II National Championships at The Meadows.
Upstate, ranked 10th in the latest Golf World/Nike Top 25 Coaches Poll, is tied with Washburn at 296. Barry leads the tournament with a first round 289 total, seven strokes ahead of the Spartans. Grand Canyon is second at 292. Three other Peach Belt Conference schools are participating in the national championships. Lander is currently fifth at 297, while second-ranked Columbus State is tied for 10th at 302. Georgia College & State is tied for 13th with a 304 total.
Upstate started the day on the 10th hole of the 6,992-yard, par 72 course and fell into a little early trouble with the five players combining for seven bogeys on the first three holes of the round. However, the Spartans turned it around and it started with Tucker. Playing out of the No. 5 spot and first on the course, Tucker went out with a 2-over-par 37. He made nine straight pars at one time during the round and birdied his 16th and 17th holes before bogeying his final hole to finish at 1-over-par. His play set the tone for the Spartans as the other four players combined for eight birdies on their final nine holes to put Upstate in position for a third place finish on the day.
Tucker is currently in a 10-way tie for sixth place at 1-over. Josh Gallman, who was 4-over-par after four holes, rallied to play the final 14 holes under par and finished with a strong 74. He is tied for 24th. Michael Lawrence and Ian Schneider each birdied their final hole of the day to card a 4-over-par 76. Baxter Culler, the Peach Belt Conference leader in stroke average and the league's tournament medalist, put together a solid back nine and finished with a 6-over-par 77.
Sonoma State's Jarid Todd finished the day with a 2-under-par 69 to take the individual lead. Barry's Hernan Borja also finished under par with a 70 and is second.
Team Scores
1. Barry 289; 2. Grand Canyon 292; T3. USC Upstate 296, Washburn 296; 5. Lander 297; 6. Cameron 298; 7. Florida Southern 299; 8. Cal State San Bernardino 300; 9. North Alabama 301; T10. Belmont Abbey 302, Columbus State 302; 12. Sonoma State 303; T13. Georgia College & State 304, Ferris State 304; 15. Western New Mexico 305; 16. Abilene Christian 306; T17. Cal State Stanislaus 307, Fairmont State 307; 19. Florida Gulf Coast 312; 20. Le Moyne 318.
Upstate Individuals
T6. Tyler Tucker 72 (+1); T24. Josh Gallman 74 (+3); T37. Michael Lawrence 75 (+4), Ian Schneider 75 (+4); T62. Baxter Culler 77.
