GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Senior Andrew Lanahan and junior Chris Wells each fired even-par 70s in the second round Saturday to lead the LSU men’s golf team into sole possession of fifth place heading into Sunday’s final round at the SunTrust Gator Invitational at the University of Florida Golf Course.
Lanahan shaved five shots off his first round score and is in a 17th-place tie with a two-round total of 5-over par 145, while Wells improved seven shots and is currently in a tie for 25th with a 7-over 147. The Tigers as a team cut six strokes off their first round total with an 11-over par 291 in the afternoon round and finished the day with a 28-over 588.
“Chris and Andrew didn’t play their best in the morning, but they were able to fight back and post good rounds for us in the afternoon,” said LSU head coach Chuck Winstead. “They are the upperclassmen on this team, and they rebounded to shoot some good scores even when the conditions got a little tougher later in the day. We expect that from them.”
Sophomores Brent Struthers and Brian Noonan led LSU in the first round with matching 73s as the Tigers started the afternoon in a ninth-place tie. Struthers finished the day tied for 32nd with a 9-over 149, while Noonan finished tied for 39th with an 11-over 151. Fellow sophomore Beck Troutman is also in a tie for 39th heading into the final round Sunday.
Tournament host Florida looks to defend its title from a season ago as it holds a comfortable lead for both the team championship and individual medalist. The Gators lead Tulsa by 11 shots with a 2-over 562, while senior Brett Stegmaier leads Tulsa’s Nicolas Geyger by five shots with a 6-under 134.
The Tigers are paired with Georgia State and UAB in the final round and will tee off from the first tee beginning at 7:45 a.m. CST. The Golf Channel is scheduled to tape highlights of the final round with broadcast information still yet to be determined.
SUNTRUST GATOR INVITATIONAL — SECOND ROUND RESULTS
TEAM SCORES (Par 560)
1. Florida 274-288 — 562 +2; 2. Tulsa 287-286 — 573 +13; 3. Florida State 291-286 — 577 +17; 4. Georgia State 285-293-578 — +18; 5. LSU 297-291 — 588 +28; 6. UAB 292-298 — 590 +30; 7. Wake Forest 297-294 — 591 +31; t8. Purdue 301-294 — 595 +35; t8. South Carolina 287-308 — 595 +35; t10. Ohio State 289-307 — 596 +36; t10. Central Florida 302-294 — 596 +36; 12. North Florida 301-298 — 599 +39; 13. Georgia Southern 289-311 — 600 +40; 14. Kentucky 301-307 — 608 +48
TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (Par 140)
1. Brett Stegmaier, Florida, 65-69 — 134 -6; 2. Nicolas Geyger, Tulsa, 70-69 — 139 -1; 3. Mark Haastrup, Georgia State, 70-70 — 140 E; t4. Kyle Reifers, Wake Forest, 73-68 — 141 +1; t4. Brad Doster, Kentucky, 68-73 — 141 +1; t6. Billy Horschel, Florida, 71-71 — 142 +2; t6. Erik Johansen, South Carolina, 68-74 — 142 +2; t6. Nicholas Smith, Florida State, 72-70 — 142 +2; t6. Joel Sjoholm, Georgia State, 69-73 — 142 +2; t6. Matt Every, Florida, 67-75 — 142 +2