BELLEAIR, Fla. – The UCF men's golf team wrapped up the second round of the American Athletic Conference Championship in fourth place Saturday afternoon at the Pelican Golf Club. The Knights were seven over (287) for the day to compile a two-day score of 564 (+4).
Following a strong start to the championship on Friday, the Houston Cougars continued to play well on Saturday, and they lead the field at -10 (550). SMU was five under in the second round to jump four spots into second place at even par (560). Memphis is one over (561) to sit three strokes ahead of UCF.
The Knights were strong on the front nine, but struggled on the back nine to finish the day over par.
Fifth year Johnny Travale led UCF at even par (70), highlighted by three birdies. The Canadian is seventh on the player leaderboard following the first two rounds at two under.
Freshman Chase Haygood tallied the Knights best score on the back nine with an even par to finish the day one over (71) with a pair of birdies. He's tied for 26th along with teammates Markus Braadlie and Egor Eroshenko.
Eroshenko was one of just seven players in the field to card a bogey-free front nine, as he was two under, birdieing holes No. 6 and 7. The Russia native ended the day with a 72 (+2) and owns a two-day 144 score (+4). Braadlie shot a 75 (+5) on Saturday, headlined by a birdie on hole No. 7.
Luis Carrera was one of just four players with an eagle in the second round, as his approach shot to the green on a par-4 dropped in. He tallied a 74 (+4) on the day, highlighted by his eagle on 17 and birdies on No. 7 and 9. The native of Mexico City, Mexico, is tied for 12th on the player leaderboard at two over.
UCF will tee off starting at 8 a.m. Sunday morning in the final round of the AAC Championship. The Knights are paired with fifth-place South Florida (+5) and sixth-place Cincinnati (+8).
Team Leaderboard
1 Houston, 272+278 = 550 (-10)
2 SMU, 285+275 = 560 (E)
3 Memphis, 284+277 = 561 (+1)
4 UCF, 277+287 = 564 (+4)
5 South Florida, 278+287 = 565 (+5)
6 Cincinnati, 284+284 = 568 (+8)
7 Wichita State, 292+285 = 577 (+17)
8 Temple, 294+285 = 579 (+19)
9 East Carolina, 293+287 = 580 (+20)