WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS – The University of Texas at Tyler men's golf team continued their improved play on Monday afternoon with rounds of 289-287 on day one of the Midwestern State Invite at Wichita Falls Country Club.
The Patriots sit in a tie for ninth after the opening two rounds on Monday afternoon thanks to a pair of strong showings from sophomores
Jackson Powers and
Carter Lewis. Both players shot totals of 141 on Monday with first round's of 71 and second round 70's to sit one-under for the tournament.
Powers and Lewis sit in a tie for 18
th place on the individual leaderboard while the team total of 576 was good enough to better a host of Lone Star Conference and South Central Region foes in the 19-team field. Midwestern State shot 559 (281-278) on Monday to hold a two-stroke advantage over Hutchinson Community College going into the third and final round tomorrow morning.
Midwestern State's Jake Doggett shot 65-68 on Monday to sit nine-under par for the tournament with a 133 total, pacing all individual competitors.
Carter and Powers were two of 25 competitors to complete the first two rounds under par in a field once again loaded with regional and national talent for the Patriots. The two UT Tyler sophomores made a combined 15 birdies on Monday, and will look to finish out tomorrow strong in the third and final round.
Freshman
Jackson Naeger had a consistent Monday at Wichita Falls Country club, posting a 72 in the morning round and a 74 in the afternoon round to sit in a tie for 44
th place at 146. Classmate
Francesco Abba was also reliable for head coach
Michael McMunn, shooting a pair of 75's to sit in a tie for 71
st with a 150.
Sophomore
Garrett Honeycutt made the turnaround of the day for UT Tyler as he rebounded after a first round 81 to shoot 73 in the afternoon and pieced together a counting score for the team in the second round. Honeycutt made four birdies in that second round 73, and will look to keep that form heading into tomorrow.
Freshman
Trent Pollard also showed a quality turnaround in his second round, shooting score of 78-72 to sit in a tie for 71
st as an individual.
UT Tyler bettered Lone Star Conference foes Arkansas-Fort Smith, Texas A&M International, Western New Mexico, West Texas A&M and Lubbock Christian on Monday, and sit within striking range of a top finish with another steady round tomorrow morning.
Patriot Finishers
