OCU surges into NAIA lead in bid to go out as national champs
SILVIS, Ill. —Â Oklahoma City fired the best round of the 74th Annual NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship today to take the team lead at TPC Deere Run.
The 11-time national champions posted a 2-under-par 278 to take a six-shot lead at the midway point of the championship. The Stars own a two-round score of 568 (290-278) after a 12-shot improvement over their opening round.
Oklahoma City announced last fall that it would be dropping its men’s and women’s golf programs following the spring season. Head coach Blake Trimble and his team are on a mission to go out as national champions.
Friends (Kan.) posted the second-best team round today with a 4-over 274 to climb four spots into second place. The Falcons sit at 576 (292-284) with 36 holes left in the championship. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) is third at 579 (290-289).
Oklahoma City, Friends, and Lindsey Wilson will play in the final group during Thursday’s third round. The trio’s tee times begin at 9:40 a.m. CT off hole No. 1.
Jack Newton led the Stars with a 2-under par 68 (32-36) — tied for the best round of the day. He jumped 63 places up the individual leaderboard into a tie for 15th place.
Newton’s teammate, Carter Ray — who was tied for the individual lead after the first round — backed up yesterday’s 68 with an even-par 70 today for the solo lead at the halfway point. He owns a two-shot lead over Oklahoma City’s Christian Yanovitch and Marian’s (Ind.) Lane Zedrick — who are tied at even par 140.
The University of Science and Arts (USAO) of Oklahoma, which held the first-round lead in its first national championship appearance, shot 302 Wednesday to drop into fourth place.
The top 15 teams and ties, along with the top six individuals and ties not on a top-15 team, made the 36-hole cut and will play the remainder of the tournament on Thursday and Friday.
The third round begins at 8 a.m. CT using split tees — both No. 1 and No. 10.
Team Standings Following Cut
Place | Team | Score |
1. | Oklahoma City | 568 (290-278) |
2. | Friends (Kan.) | 576 (292-284) |
3. | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 579 (290-289) |
4. | Science and Arts (Okla.) | 583 (281-302) |
5. | Marian (Ind.) | 585 (299-286) |
6. | Grand View (Iowa) | 587 (291-296) |
7. | MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) | 587 (293-294) |
8. | Wayland Baptist (Texas) | 588 (295-293) |
9. | Hastings (Neb.) | 589 (288-301) |
10. | Webber International (Fla.) | 590 (299-291) |
11. | Dalton State (Ga.) | 593 (301-292) |
12. | Keiser (Fla.) | 594 (295-299) |
13. | Missouri Valley | 595 (305-290) |
14. | Victoria (B.C.) | 596 (295-301) |
15. | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 597 (294-303) |
Individual Standings Following Cut (Not on Top-15 Team)
Place | Team | Score |
T-4. | Cobey Riddle – Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.) | 141 (70-71) |
T-6. | Camron Jones – Grace (Ind.) | 142 (71-71) |
T-15. | Teagen Hull – Columbia (Mo.) | 144 (73-71) |
T-20. | JJ Kaczynski – Viterbo (Wis.) | 145 (69-76) |
T-20. | Pedro Alonzo-Morgado – Cumberlands (Ky.) | 145 (73-72) |
T-34. | Hudson Hobbs – Arizona Christian | 147 (71-76) |
T-34. | Jose Vidal – Oakland City (Ind.) | 147 (71-76) |
T-34. | Francisco DeBethencourt – Milligan (Tenn.) | 147 (72-75) |
T-34. | Nick Erickson – OUAZ | 147 (73-74) |
T-34. | Gates Glanton – Coastal Georgia | 147 (73-74) |
T-34. | Blake Hartner – Columbia (Mo.) | 147 (75-72) |