Kline helps UCO move into third in Super Regional
LEMONT, Ill. – Weather played a role in Tuesday’s rounds at the NCAA Central/Midwest Super-Regional, with nearly every team posting higher scores in the second round, with Southeastern carding a 303 and slipping to second place after 36 holes, while Zach James played himself into a tie for the lead at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont, Ill.
The Savage Storm looked to be in trouble early as they were among the early finishers and after their 303 gave them a 591 two-round score, the team slipped as low as 10th before the conditions began to take their toll on the late finishing teams as well on the par-72, 6,932 yard Dub’s Dread Course.
Round three will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, with the Storm playing in the final group with fellow Central Region rivals Central Missouri and Central Oklahoma.
James turned in a 74 in his second trip through and when added to his 68 on day one leaves him as one of just four players under par and in a tie with UCM’s Travis Mays for first at 142.
SE’s 591 is five strokes behind Central Missouri who took over the lead, but is two strokes ahead of UCO who has a two-round tally of 593.
Missouri- St. Louis is tied with the Bronchos in third at 593, with Southwestern Oklahoma State rounding out the top five with a 598.
At least the top three teams plus three individuals at the conclusion of the Super-Regional will advance to the NCAA National Finals slated for May 18-22 at Rock Barn Golf and Spa in Conover, N.C.
Logan Gray and Eric Kline paved the way for UCO’s rally into third place. Gray fired a 1-under-par 71 and Kline added a 72 for the Bronchos, who shot a 297 for a 593 total.
Kline is tied for third in the medalist race with a one-under 143 total and Gray is a stroke back in a tie for fifth. The Bronchos also got a 75 from Russ Purser Tuesday, while Eli Armstrong shot 79 and Wesley Jackson 82.
Gray was steady all day with 15 pars, two birdies and one bogey. He made his lone bogey on the par-5 fifth hole, got that stroke back with a birdie at No. 8 in making the turn at 36 and made six straight pars on the back nine before a birdie on the par-4 16th hole led to a closing 35.
Kline also was a model of consistency with 14 pars, two birdies and two bogeys. He was one-under through five holes before bogeying No. 6 en route to a front-nine 36 and equaled that coming in to finish off the even-par round.
Purser shot 38-37 on the day and Armstrong rebounded from an opening-nine 42 with a closing 37 on the strength of two birdies.
After shooting a second round 306, Southwestern Oklahoma State is in fifth place but well within striking distance of second place.
Manuel Arzuaga paced the Bulldogs on Tuesday, carding a 76 (+4) in the second set of 18 holes and currently holds a share of 19th overall. He has excelled on par-5 holes at the tournament, shooting an average of 4.63 while racking up a team-high seven birdies.
A trio of Bulldogs find themselves tied in 28th place. Stefan Idstam carded a 78, as did Manuel Arzuaga. Jake Duvall took two strokes off his first round score and turned in SWOSU’s best score of the round with a 74. Seth Overstreet sits in a tie for 78th overall after shooting 80.