TAMPA, Fla. — Sophomore Beck Troutman fired a 2-under par 70 in the first round followed by a 1-under 71 in the second round Monday to lead the LSU men’s golf team into fourth place after the first day of the Gary Koch Invitational at Old Memorial Golf Club.
After finishing the first round in a tie for second place with Kentucky with a 2-under 286, the Tigers posted a 3-over 291 in the afternoon to finish the day in fourth place with a two-round total of 1-over 577.
“It went pretty well for us out there today,” said LSU head coach Chuck Winstead. “We shot 1-over for the day on a golf course that’s not easy to shoot low scores. Obviously we’re not in the lead, but I’m pretty pleased with 1-over par through 36 holes.”
Troutman is the only Tiger under par as he is currently tied for eighth place in the individual competition with a 3-under 141. Senior Andrew Lanahan posted rounds of even-par 72 and 1-over 73 to sit in a tie for 23rd with a 1-over 145, while freshman Jarrod Barsamian is one stroke back in a tie for 26th with a 2-over 146. Junior All-SEC performer Chris Wells is tied for 35th, and sophomore Brian Noonan is tied for 43rd heading into Tuesday’s final round.
Winstead said that the course is one where his players must be patient to post some low scores, and he believes they did that relatively well Monday.
“It’s a different type of golf course than one we typically play,” Winstead said. “It’s the type of golf course that you have to be patient on to put up some low numbers. You really have to take what the course gives you and play it one shot at a time. We were able to do that for the most part today, and we’ll try to do the same tomorrow.”
Florida leads the tournament by 11 strokes over Kentucky with a 23-under 553 as all five Gators finished the day in the top 10 of the individual competition. Florida freshman Toby Ragland leads by two shots with an 8-under 136, while senior Matt Every, senior James Vargas and freshman Billy Horschel are each four strokes back in a tie for third with a 4-under 140. Senior Brett Stegmaier is tied for 10th with a 2-under 142.
The Tigers are paired with Texas A&M and Toledo on Tuesday as tee times for the final round begin at 8 a.m. After returning from the Gary Koch Invitational, LSU travels to the Jonesborough, Tenn., to compete in the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate on Saturday and Sunday at The Ridges Golf and Country Club.
GARY KOCH INVITATIONAL — SECOND ROUND RESULTS
TEAM SCORES (Par 576)
1. Florida 277-276 — 553 -23; 2. Kentucky 286-278 — 564 -12; 3. South Florida 292-283 — 575 -1; 4. LSU 286-291 — 577 +1; 5. Toledo 287-292-579 — +3; t6. Texas A&M 289-291 — 580 +4; t6. Georgia State 294-286 — 580 +4; 8. Florida State 289-293 — 582 +6; 9. Central Florida 291-293 — 584 +8; 10. College of Charleston 301-287 — 588 +12; 11. North Florida 294-296 — 590 +14; 12. Arkansas 297-298 — 595 +19
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS (Par 144)
1. Toby Ragland, Florida, 69-67 — 136 -8; 2. Brad Doster, Kentucky, 70-68 — 138 -6; t3. Matt Every, Florida, 70-70 — 140 -4; t3. Robert Gates, Jr., Texas A&M, 69-71 — 140 -4; t3. James Vargas, Florida, 67-73 — 140 -4; t3. Billy Horschel, Florida, 72-68 — 140 -4; t3. Darren Baynes, Georgia State, 72-68 — 140 -4
LSU SCORES
t8. Beck Troutman 70-71 — 141 -3
t23. Andrew Lanahan 72-73 — 145 +1
t26. Jarrod Barsamian 72-74 — 146 +2
t35. Chris Wells 75-73 — 148 +4
t43. Brian Noonan 72-77 — 149 +5