March 30, 2009
Team Leaderboard with Players
Player Statistics
BRASELTON, Ga. - East Tennessee State grabbed the lead in the men's field and Gardner-Webb jumped out in front of the women's competition after 36 holes of play Monday, at the Second Larry Nelson Collegiate Invitational at Chateau Elan.
The event, hosted by Kennesaw State University in partnership with the Gwinnett County Sports Commission, features 23 total men's and women's teams playing on two courses. The men are competing on the 6,735-yard, par-71 Woodlands Course while the women are playing on the 5,974-yard, par-72 Chateau Course.
The 24th-ranked Bucs of ETSU (288-283), took the early lead in the men's field and didn't look back, grabbing a five-stroke advantage over second place Stetson (296-280-576) after coming into the clubhouse with a three-over par 571 total through 36 of 54 holes. Murray State (290-292-582) sits in third with Morehead State trailing just behind.
ETSU's Seamus Power and Michael Stewart share the individual lead with three-under par 139 totals. Power shot a consistent 70-69, while Stewart carded the lowest round of the event, a 67, in the opening round before coming in at one-over in the afternoon session.
Gardner-Webb (317-304-621), who finished 15th at the event last year, leads second place Samford (314-309-623) by two strokes after recording a second round 304, the lowest team total on the women's side. Belmont Abbey (323-310-333) is 12 strokes back at 633.
Belmont Abbey's Carley Warrington is in the women's lead after shooting a two-over par 146. She holds a comfortable three-stroke lead over second place Sara Hunt of Samford who went 75-74 to finish the day at 149.
The fifth place Owls (302-289-591) men's squad was led by senior Michael Tulacz who was red hot in the opening round, finishing the day just four strokes back of the leaders in fifth at 143. Tulacz birdied four before turning in the first of his rounds' three eagles with a three on the par five fifth. He then chipped in for an eagle two on the par four eighth to make the turn in 33.
Tulacz's backside started just as smoothly as he birdied 10 to move to four-under. An untimely and uncharacteristic quadruple bogey after a lost ball on the 13th moved him back to square one, but he rebounded nicely with a birdie on the 14th and his third eagle on the 15th to finish with a two-under 69. An afternoon 74 rounded out his day's total. He leads the field in par five scoring (4.17) and eagles (3).
Jeff Karlsson is tied for 12th, just seven strokes behind the leaders, after turning in a 146 total. After opening with a 76, the Owls freshman led the team with a one-under par second round 70. He is second in par four scoring (3.95), third in par three scoring (3.00) and fourth in birdies (7).
The Owls other two qualifying scores came from Matthew Nagy and J.P. Putnam who finished the day tied for 30th and 46th respectively. Nagy went 77-72 for a 149 total, while Putnam rebounded from an opening round 80 with an afternoon 73 to finish at 153. Chad Wilson, playing as an individual, is tied for 65th at 159.
The KSU women's squad is in sixth place, within striking distance of a top three finish after going 322-318 for a 640 total. Three players are tied for 16th and the team lead after totaling 160 on Monday.
Freshman Patricia Arana bounced back from a difficult morning 86 with the Owls lowest round of the day, a 74, to lead the team in the afternoon. Ashley Aguilera shot 79-81 for her 160, while senior Laura Lindsey went 78-82. Jordan Lazenby is tied for 30th at 166 after combining a morning 85 and an afternoon 81. Lindsey is tied for third in par five scoring (5.00) while Lazenby's four birdies were good enough for a tie for fourth.
Malin Becker shot 80 in the opening round to contribute to the team score but was unable to play the second round due to a shoulder injury, leaving the team a woman down. Becker hopes to play in the Tuesday's final round.
The teams were treated to dinner and a special guest appearance by World Golf Hall of Famer Larry Nelson, the tournament's namesake and a KSU alumn, at a ceremony following the conclusion of play. Mr. Nelson spoke to the players and coaches about the keys to success on the golf course and life, including patience and having a short memory of both bad and good experiences in order to stay focused and even-keel.
The teams will play the final 18 holes on Tuesday beginning with an 8 a.m. shotgun start Live scoring will be available through GolfStat at www.golfstat.com. The tournament is open to the public and free to attend. For more information, visit the Larry Nelson Invitational website at www.kennesaw.edu/larrynelson.
