Oct. 7, 2008
Day One Combined Results
Day One Statistics
SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Kennesaw State Men's Golf team proved how effective a solid all-around team performance can be Monday, besting the field by six strokes in the second round to move into solo third place after 36 holes of the Mizuno Savannah Intercollegiate.
"We really played a great second round," said Kennesaw State Head Coach Blake Smart on the Owls comeback. "Scoring low really comes down to a total team effort."
The Owls, who stood tied for fourth 20 strokes off of the lead after the opening round, charged up the leaderboard on the strength of an afternoon 281 to move within just nine strokes of the lead held by Georgia Southern at 570. The 281 was the Owls lowest 18 hole total of the season and their lowest single round total since last September at the USA Jaguar Invitational when they shot a 274.
Kennesaw State took a while to get things going, finishing the first round at 298. Michael Tulacz led the Owls in the first, turning in the team's only sub-par round after carding a one-under 71. Alex Jones, playing in his first event in nearly a year, turned in the Owls second lowest score in the opening round, a one-over 73. Matthew Nagy carded a 76 while J.P. Putnam and Jeff Karlsson tied at 78 to round out KSU's morning scoring.
It was Putnam and Karlsson who led the Owls in their afternoon comeback. Putnam tied his career-low for the third time this season, turning a four-under 68 to move into a tie for 10th. Karlsson also set a collegiate low, improving his previous best round by two strokes with a three-under 69.
Tulacz remained steady with an even par 72 to move into a tie for third at 143, four strokes of the individual lead held by the Eagles Logan Blondell. He extended his streak of par-or-better rounds on Monday, making it eight straight to start the season. Should he maintain his position on the leaderboard, Tulacz would earn his third-straight top 10 finish of the season.
Nagy matched Tulacz in the second, walking away with a 72 of his own to move into a tie for 17th at 148. Jones couldn't maintain the momentum of his solid first round, falling back to the pack with an afternoon 78 to drop to a tie for 29th.
"This is the type of effort that we need to exert in every round," added Smart. "We are learning every day and today was a glimpse of the talent that this team possesses."
The Owls are just four strokes behind second place Furman and hold a commanding 13-stroke edge over fourth place Francis Marion. A third or better finish would be Kennesaw's best of the season.
The teams will play 18 holes on Tuesday to determine the winner. A recap of the action will be available on the Kennesaw State Athletics homepage at www.ksuowls.com following the conclusion of play.
Day One Results
Owls 298-281=579, 3rd of 12
t3 Michael Tulacz 71-72= -1, 143
t10 J.P. Putnam 78-68= +2, 146
t12 Jeff Karlsson 78-69= +3, 147
t17 Matthew Nagy 76-72= +4, 148
t29 Alex Jones 73-78= +7, 151
