PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The LSU men’s golf team shot a 12-over par 300 on Monday in the second round of the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship to finish the day in a tie for seventh place at Sawgrass Country Club.
“We have a good opportunity tomorrow to help ourselves, but to do that we are going to have to correct some mistakes and really play a lot better,” said LSU head coach Greg Jones. “It was tough out there today- really windy, and I expect more of the same for tomorrow,” said Jones.
The Tigers, fourth after one round on Sunday, are tied for seventh with Southeastern Conference rival Kentucky, who fired an even-par 288 in round two. South Carolina continues to lead the field after 36 holes, as the Gamecocks shot a 1-over 289 Monday and are currently one shot over par (577) for the tournament. All 18 teams in the field are currently over par, a field that features seven teams ranked in the top 15 of the latest Golfweek/Sagarin rankings.
Florida, the nation’s top-ranked team, also shot a 12-over 300 and is in fourth place and 22 strokes behind South Carolina. Clemson, ranked No. 2, sits 13 shots behind the Gamecocks in second place. Clemson fired a tournament-low 4-under 284 on Monday despite the tough conditions. Oklahoma State, ranked 13th, is third at 21-over 597 after recording a 1-over 289 in round two. Tennessee is fifth at 26-over 602 and shot an 11-over 299 on Monday.
Kentucky’s Mark Blakfield is the individual leader after two rounds of play at 1-under 142. He shot a 5-under 67 in round two on Tuesday after beginning the tournament with a 3-over 75 on Monday. Junior Jeff Riemann, tied for fifth place after Monday’s action, slipped to a tie for 19th place after he shot a 4-over 76 in round two. Riemann is currently at 5-over 149 for the tournament.
Two Tiger juniors, Andrew Lanahan and Heath West, are tied for 29th place at 7-over 151. Lanahan led LSU on Monday by shooting even-par 72 while West turned in a 4-over 76. Senior Garrett Prather is in a tie for 44th place at 10-over 154. The Crowley, La., native also posted a 76 on Tuesday. Junior Jake Shaw is tied for 87th place after shooting a 9-over 81 on Tuesday and is 25-over par for the tournament.
The final round will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday and the Tigers are paired with Kentucky and Texas. South Carolina, the current leaders, is paired with Clemson and Oklahoma State and will tee off beginning at 9:30 a.m.
TEAM SCORES (Par 576)
1. South Carolina 288-289 — 577 +1; 2. Clemson 306-284 — 590 +14; 3. Oklahoma State 308-289 — 597 — +21; 4. Florida 299-300 — +23; 5. Tennessee 303-299 — 602 +26; 6. Georgia 314-290 — 604 +28; t7. Kentucky 317-288 — 605 +29; t7. LSU 305-300 — 605 +29; 9. Texas 311-297 — 608 +32; t10. North Carolina State 315-295 — 610 +34; t10. North Florida 318-292 — 610 +34; t12. Duke 314-300 — 614 +38; t12. Augusta State 319-295 — 614 +38; 14. Northwestern 319-297 — 616 +40; 15. North Carolina 319-300 — 619 +43; 16. Auburn 317-304 — 621 +45; 17. Vanderbilt 322-301 — 623 +47; 18. Florida State 326-298 — 624 +48
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS (Par 144)
t1. Mark Blakfield, Kentucky, 75-67 — 142 -2; t1. David Skinns, Tennessee, 73-69 — 142 -2; t1. Jake Thompson, South Carolina, 71-71 — 142 -2; 4. Gregg Jones, Clemson, 77-66 — 143 -1; 5. Jason Hartwick, Texas, 71-73 — 144 E
LSU SCORES
T19. Jeff Riemann 73-76 — 149 +5
T29. Andrew Lanahan 79-72 — 151 +7
T29. Heath West 75-76 — 151 +7
T44. Garrett Prather 78-76 — 154 +10
T87. Jake Shaw 88-81 — 169 +25