ESTERO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) -- Kyler Tate put together two solid rounds to lead the UCF men's golf team in the Homewood Hilton Airport Inivtational Monday. Tate led the way as the Knights are in third heading into Tuesday's final round of play. As an individual, Tate is in tied for fourth after carding rounds of 74 (+2) and 72 (E) at Old Corkscrew Golf Club.
Eastern Kentucky leads the 16-team field at 4-over after two rounds. The host Florida Gulf Coast squad is 12 strokes off the lead in second. UCF is 22-over and 18 strokes off the pace set by EKU.
Tate was 2-under early, but a bogey on the eighth hole brought him back to even par. On the back nine, three bogeys in the first four holes put him at +3. But Tate rebounded to post a birdie on the Par 3 17th to get a stroke back before the end of the first round. In the second round, Tate took a double bogey on the third hole, but came back to birdie both No. 4 and No. 14 to finish his second round at even par and sit at +2 for the day.
Tate trails Eastern Kentucky's Will Sallee (-6), who was the only golfer under par through the first two rounds, by eight strokes.
Manuel Elvira is also in the top 10 for the Knights after one day of action. He carded rounds of 74 and 75 to go +5 for the day, good enough to be tied for 10th heading into the final 18 holes.
Playing as an individual, Ryan Stovash is tied for 15th at +6.
The remainder of the lineup for the Knights includes Juuso Kahlos T26 (+8), Bobby Bai T30 (+9) and Donne Trosper T43 (+12).
Tuesday's third and final round is slated to begin at 8 a.m.