Oct. 16, 2007
2007 Mizuno Southbridge Intercollegiate Day One Results
SAVANNAH, Ga. - After getting less than a week off to rest following their fifth place finish at the Brickyard Collegiate Championship, the Kennesaw State men's golf team finds itself in eighth place through two rounds of the Mizuno Southbridge Intercollegiate hosted by Georgia Southern University in Savannah, Ga.
The Owls (592, +13) were solid in the first of two rounds, finishing with a 291 total and in sixth place, only five strokes behind the second place hosts following the morning session at the 6,922-yard, par-72 Forest Hills Golf Club. Like many of the other teams in the 15-team field, Kennesaw State had trouble finding red numbers in the day's second round, posting a 301 and falling two spots on the leaderboard after 36 holes.
"We got off to a decent start in the first round, and I felt like we were in good position heading into the afternoon," said Kennesaw State head coach Blake Smart on his team's performance. "Unfortunately, we came out flat and never gained any sustainable momentum in the second round."
Wesley Sheard led the Owls in the first round, carding a two-under par 70 to position himself in a tie for seventh heading into the afternoon. Michael Tulacz, who is ranked No. 9 nationally in the Golfweek/Sagarin Poll, got off to a slow start but scrapped together a one-over 73 to tie for 24th after one round. First-year Owls Christopher Hamm and Bryan Alred each recorded a 74 to round out KSU's morning scoring.
After getting a feel for the course in the initial 18, Tulacz made some adjustments and led the Owls in the second round, posting a one-under 71 to move into a tie for 14th (144, E). Alred also improved his score in the second round, pulling together an even-par round to finish tied for 23rd (146, +2) in the 79-player field. Sheard (148, +4) and Chris Johnson (160, +16) recorded the Owls other two scores of the afternoon, with Sheard carding a 78 and Johnson an 80.
"Mike and Bryan both grinded out some solid rounds, but everyone struggled with the greens," said Smart on his team's second round performance. "Hopefully we can put together another comeback round tomorrow and sneak up the leaderboard like we did last week at the Brickyard."
The Owls trail Eastern Michigan and Wofford, who are tied for sixth by just five strokes and are 15 strokes behind fifth place Western Carolina. Winthrop is the team leader at 561 while the Eagles' Kelly Manders is the individual leader at 137.
The final round will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Johnson will tee off in the first group with Hamm, Shear, Alred and Tulacz following every nine minutes thereafter respectively.
