BULLARD, TEXAS – UT Tyler sits fifth on the team leaderboard following rounds of 302-291 on day one of the King-Alfred Spring Invitational.
The Patriots were led by sophomore
Jackson Naeger, who sits in a tie for fourth place on the individual leaderboard following rounds of 71-73 for a 144 total. UT Tyler enters tomorrow's final round at Eagles Bluff Country Club 10 strokes back of third place Midwestern State, in what is a prime opportunity to close ground in the regional rankings with potential head-to-head victories.
UT Permian Basin will hold a four-shot advantage heading into Tuesday over Cameron after opening the event with rounds of 290-285. Sangha Park of UT Permian Basin sits atop the individual leaderboard with a seven-under par total of 135 (64-71).
Three additional Patriots joined Naeger within the top 25 of the individual leaderboard in
Carter Lewis,
Seth Campbell and
Luke Emerson. Lewis sits in 17
th place following opening rounds of 76-73 for a 150 total.
Campbell and Emerson both shot much-improved second rounds on Monday afternoon to join forces with Naeger and Lewis for the team score of 291. Campbell went 72 after a first round 78 to sit in a tie for 18
th place, while Emerson followed up his first-round 78 with a 73 to sit in a tie for 21
st place.
Senior
Carson Whitton and junior
Alex Kopenhaver rounded out the counting scores with totals of 153 (77-76) and 163 (85-78), respectively.
UT Tyler was represented by four individual competitors in the event in
Ryan Willis (79-76),
Francesco Abba (79-83),
Garrett Honeycutt (85-78) and
Trent Pollard (85-82).
Tomorrow's final round will get started with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun.
