ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The UT Tyler men's golf team improved 17 strokes over the course of their opening two rounds of the 2021-22 season on day one of the RJGA South Central Shootout in Albuquerque, N.M.
 
The Patriots answered a first round team total of 315 at The University of New Mexico's Championship Course with a second round 298 as all six players competing for UT Tyler improved from their first to second rounds on the day. Freshman Francesco Abba posted a one-under par round of 71 in his second round of the day to lead the way for the UT Tyler turnaround, and sits in a tie for 17^th place at 145 (74-71) for the event.
 
UT Tyler sits in 15^th place entering tomorrow's final round with a team score of 613. Colorado State-Pueblo led the way on the team leaderboard with a seven-under par team score of 569 (283-286). Matt Miller of Colorado State-Pueblo leads the individual leaderboard with a 139 (71-68) for the day.
 
Sophomore Alex Kopenhaver dropped 10 strokes from his round one score to post 73 in round two for the Patriots, and sits in a tie for 66^th with a 156 (83-73) total for the day alongside classmate Jackson Powers. Powers posted rounds of 79-77 on day one.
 
Freshman Jackson Naeger opened up his Patriot career with rounds of 80-77 to sit in a tie for 69^th at a 157 total on the day. Sophomore Garrett Honeycutt rounded out the team scores with a 162 (82-80).
 
Freshman Trent Pollard joined Abba and Naegar in his Patriot debut, competing as an individual, and fired rounds of 87-82.
 
UT Tyler defeated Lone Star Conference foe Arkansas-Fort Smith on day one, and are within five strokes of four teams on the leaderboard after the strong second round.
 
The Patriots will look to make their comeback up the leaderboard in tomorrow morning's final round.