JACKSONVILLE, Fla.– The 25th ranked LSU men’s golf team shot a 7-under par 569 on Monday to finish in a tie for second place after two rounds at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship in Jacksonville.
The Tigers are tied with host North Florida, one stroke behind leader Florida, who is 8-under par. LSU is ahead of five teams currently ranked in the top 15 of the MasterCard Top 25 rankings. South Carolina (4), and Wake Forest (13) finished in a three-way tie with Augusta State for fourth place.
Senior Alan Morgan finished in a tie for second place individually with Florida’s Camilo Benedetti. Morgan shot a 70 in round one and followed that score with a 69 to post a score of 139, and is 5-under par. David Bennett of North Florida is the leader after two rounds. Bennett shot a 66 and 70 for a score of 136, and is 8-under par.
Junior Nathan Goulding has been on fire of late for the Tigers, and he continued his streak by shooting a 69 and a 71 to finish in fourth place, tied with two others. Senior Craig Taylor finished tied for 23rd, sophomore Garrett Prather placed 30th and sophomore John Humphries is in 36th place.
Morgan is looking for his third individual title of the season, while the Tigers look to capture their third team victory as well. The Tigers and Morgan were both victorious at the Country Club of Louisiana Intercollegiate in October, and the Tennessee Tournament of Champions in September.
“Our performance today was awfully solid,” head coach Greg Jones said. “We played really good, and everyone contributed.”
The Tigers look to capture their third tournament win of the year and gain some momentum before hosting the first annual LSU Spring Invitational March 5-6 at the University Club.
Team Results (After Two Rounds)
1. Florida 284-284–568 -8; t2. LSU 285-284–569-7; t2. North Florida 282-287–569 -7; t4. South Carolina 289-285–574 -2; t4. Wake Forest 284-290–574 -2; t4. Augusta State 291-283–574 -2; 7. Tennessee 283-299–582 +6; t8. North Carolina 292-293–585 +9; t8. North Carolina State 291-294–585 +9; 10. Alabama 292-299–591 +15; 11. Duke 290-303–593 +17; 12. Georgia State 299-301–600 +24; 13. Northwestern 289-312–601 +25; t14. Vanderbilt 302-302–604 +28; t14. Florida State 299-305–604 +28.
Top 5 Individuals
1. David Bennett, North Florida, 66-70–136 -8; t2. Camilo Benedetti, Florida, 72-67–139 -5; t2. Alan Morgan, LSU, 70-69–139 -5; t4. Brent Wanner, Wake Forest, 71-69–140 -4; t4. David Sanchez, North Carolina State, 68-72–140 -4; t4. Nathan Goulding, LSU, 69-71–140 -4.
LSU Scores
t2. Alan Morgan– 70-69–139 -5; t4. Nathan Goulding– 69-71–140 -4; t23. Craig Taylor– 72-73–145 +1; t30. Garrett Prather– 75-71–146 +2; t36. John Humphries– 74-73–147 +3.