BATON ROUGE — The LSU men’s golf team is in position to earn its first tournament victory of the season after recording a tournament-best 2-over par 290 in the second round of the LSU Spring Invitational to take an eight-shot lead into Sunday’s final round.
The Tigers lead the Lamar Cardinals with a two-round total of 6-over 582.
With a win, LSU would earn its fifth victory in five tries in its annual Spring Invitational and the 10th tournament title of the Greg Jones era.
“We need to just go out and take care of our own ball and play the golf course,” Jones said. “I don’t care what the scoreboard says, I just want to see everybody play well. If we play sharp golf, the scoreboard will take care of itself.”
Leading LSU into the final round is freshman Beck Troutman, who sits atop the leaderboard after firing the best score of his career with a 3-under 69 in the second round. He leads the tournament by three shots with a 3-under 141.
“I didn’t do anything special,” Troutman said. “I kept the ball in play, didn’t make any big mistakes and made a few putts on the way in. I’m going to approach tomorrow like I have the last two days. I’m just going to go out and play and try to help us win a golf tournament.”
Jones said he is not surprised with the play of Troutman, despite his youth and inexperience. He believes this will be good experience for Troutman as he matures in his college career.
“Nobody in our program is surprised, because we know what he can shoot and how good he is,” Jones said. “He’s learned a lot this year and has really matured as a player. He’s very talented, but he’s got his head right and is focused. This will be good experience for him.”
All-American John Humphries was the last Tiger to claim medalist honors when he won the 2003 LSU Spring Invitational with a three-round total of 5-under 211.
Senior Brandon Aydlett and sophomore Chris Wells join Troutman in the top 10, sitting in a tie for sixth and eighth, respectively. Aydlett finished play with a total of 1-over 145, while Wells sits with a 2-over 146.
Lamar made the biggest jump in the field, moving from 10th into second place after recording a 3-over 291 in the second round. The Cardinals trail LSU with a 14-over 590. First-round co-leaders Texas-Arlington and Arkansas-Little Rock fell into fourth and a tie for 13th, respectively.
Lamar head coach Brad McMakin said he was pleased with what his team was able to do Saturday and believes that if the windy conditions persist, anything can happen Sunday.
“We got off to a rough start with the wind blowing like it was, but we battled back,” said McMakin. “We putted better today than we did yesterday, and I fell much better about what we did today.
“It’s going to be tough to beat LSU on their home golf course, and we knew that coming in. If the conditions stay like it is, anything can happen.”
Jones also believes that windy conditions could play a part in deciding the championship.
“The great equalizer in golf is the weather,” Jones said. “When the blows, anybody can play good and anybody can play bad. This tournament is not over, and eight shots can be made up in two or three holes. That’s why we have to focus on the way we play and not the scoreboard.”
The final round begins Sunday at 8 a.m., and tee times will run through 9:52 a.m. LSU tees off beginning at 9:20 and is paired with Lamar and Arkansas State.
LSU SPRING INVITATIONAL — SECOND ROUND
TEAM SCORES (Par 576)
1. LSU 292-290 — 582 +6; 2. Lamar 299-291 — 590 +14; 3. Arkansas State 297-294 — 591 +15; 4. Texas-Arlington 292-303 — 595+19; 5. South Alabama 294-302 — 596 +20; t6. Maryland 302-296 — 598 +22; t6. Middle Tennessee State 295-303 — 958 +22; 8. Jacksonville State 304-295 — 599 +23; t9. Mississippi State 298-302 — 600 +24; t9. Tulane 297-303 — 600 +24; t9. Southeastern , La. 303-297 — 600 +24; 12. Furman 293-308 — 601 +25; t13. Louisiana-Lafayette 302-303 — 605 +29; t13. Arkansas-Little Rock 292-313 — 605 +29; 15. Southern Miss 313-294 — 607 +31; 16. South Florida 305-306 — 611 +35; 17. Memphis 311-314 — 625 +49
TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (Par 144)
1. Beck Troutman, LSU, 72-69 — 141 -3; t2. Tyrone Mordt, UTA, 70-74 — 144 E; t2. Patrick Sullivan, UALR, 69-75 — 144 E; t2. Justin Lowe, ULL, 72-72 — 144 E; t2. Julian Colmenares, JSU, 72-72 — 144 E; t6. Hunter Bendall, Maryland, 72-73 — 145 +1; t6. Brandon Aydlett, LSU, 71-74 — 145 +1; t8. Anders Hofvander, SLU, 72-74 — 146 +2; t8. Chris Wells, LSU, 74-72 — 146 +2; t10. Dawie VanDerWalt, Lamar, 75-72 — 147 +3; t10. Rob Langley, Furman, 74-73 — 147 +3; t10. Greg Gowen, USA, 74-73 — 147 +3; t10. Tommy Murray, ASU, 75-72 — 147 +3;
LSU SCORES
1. Beck Troutman 72-69 — 141 -3
t6. Brandon Aydlett 71-74 — 145 +1
t8. Chris Wells 74-72 — 146 +2
t27. Heath West 75-75 — 150 +6
t27. Aaron Smith * 79-71 — 150 +6
t60. Brent Struthers * 76-78 — 154 +10
t65. Jake Shaw * 76-79 — 155 +11
t76. Jeff Riemann * 78-79 — 157 +13
t87. Garrett Runion 78-85 — 163 +19
* – indicates player competing as individual