April 30, 2007
Texarkana, Ark. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF men's golf team moved up two spots to fourth place following the second round of play at the C-USA Championship. The Knights totaled a 291 (+3) during Monday's round and have a two-day total of 587 (+11) after 36 holes at the Texarkana Country Club (Par 72, 6,935 yards).
No. 23 Tulsa extended its lead to 14 strokes after posting its second consecutive tally of 285 (-3). The Golden Hurricane, who held a three-shot lead entering the day, now holds a comfortable lead on second-place UAB (584, +8). The Blazers hold only a one shot lead on Houston (585, +9).
The Knights, who improved five from strokes from their opening round, share fourth with Southern Miss (587, +11) as only four shots separate seven teams bunched in between second and sixth place.
"We played better today, but we still have to find a way to make more putts," head coach Nick Clinard said. "Our game is good, but we just aren't scoring."
Tulsa's Ryan Henry was joined at the top of the leaderboard by Houston's Jordan Irwin as the duo is tied for first with identical scores of 140 (-4) following 36 holes. Irwin equaled the low round of the day with a 69 (-3), while Henry shot even-par to hold onto a share of the lead.
UCF freshman Nuno Henriques (Funchal, Portugal/The Pendleton School) shot a 31 (-5) on his back nine to post a 70 (-2), which was the low round of the day for the Knights. Henriques made three birdies coming in and also holed out his approach shot on the par-4, 15th hole for eagle. Henriques is tied for 13th with fellow Knight Giwon Suh (Orlando, Fla./Olympia).
Suh shot a 74 (+2) as he joins Henriques with a two-round total of 146 (+2). Sophomore Greg Forest (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) opened his round with a double-bogey, but played the remaining 17 holes at one-under par to shoot a 73 (+1). Forest had a trio of birdies, including two of his last three holes.
Freshman Mike Stern (Miami, Fla./Killian) had an up and down round that culminated with a 74 (+2). Stern shot a 33 (-3) going out on his front nine, but made six bogeys and a birdie coming in to finish at plus-two. He led the Knights in birdies for the second straight day, totaling five on his card and he now has nine for the tournament.
Stern and Forest are tied for 23rd (148, +4), while sophomore Preston Brown (Ponte Vedra, Fla./Nease) also carded a 74 (+2) and is tied for 26th (149, +5).
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Team Leaderboard - (Second Round)Rank Team Totals1 Tulsa 285-285 = 570 (-6)2 UAB 298-286 = 584 (+8)3 Houston 295-291 = 586 (+10)4 UCF 296-291 = 587 (+11) Southern Miss 293-294 = 587 (+11)6 SMU 301-287 = 588 (+12) Memphis 288-300 = 588 (+12) UTEP 291-297 = 588 (+12)9 Marshall 300-293 = 593 (+17)10 East Carolina 302-302 = 604 (+28)11 Rice 296-309 = 605 (+29)
Individual LeaderboardRank Player (School) Total1 Ryan Henry (Tulsa) 68-72 = 140 (-4) Jordan Irwin (Houston) 71-69 = 140 (-4)3 Brett Myers (Tulsa) 72-69 = 141 (-3)4 Christian Brand (Marshall) 72-70 = 142 (-2) Garrett Osborne (UAB) 69-73 = 142 (-2)
UCF Individuals (Place)Nuno Henriques (T13) 76-70 = 146 (+2)Giwon Suh (T13) 72-74 = 146 (+2)Mike Stern (T23) 74-74 = 148 (+4)Greg Forest (T23) 75-73 = 148 (+4)Preston Brown (T26) 75-74 = 149 (+5)