MUSKOGEE, OKLA. – A pair of 285's on Monday afternoon placed UT Tyler in a tie for second place and two-shots back of the lead following the first two rounds of the 25^th Annual NSU Golf Classic.
 
Junior Carson Wray sits second on the individual leaderboard dafter a six-under par total of 136 on Monday at Muskogee Golf Club, including a second-round of 66 that matches the lowest round shot in the Division II era for the Patriots. Junior Jackson Naeger completed his first two rounds under par as well for the Patriots and sits in a tie for fourth at 139 (68-71).
 
UT Tyler will begin tomorrow's third and final round two strokes back of overnight leader Central Missouri, who posted rounds of 281-287 on Monday for a 568 total. The Patriots sit in second alongside host Northeastern State at 570 following the rounds of 285.
 
Wray sat at or within a few strokes of the individual lead throughout the afternoon and began his second round with two birdies and an eagle within the first five holes to get to four-under par. He closed out his first competitive day as a Patriot with two more birdies and a bogey to pair his morning round of 70 with the 66.
 
Naeger posted a morning round of 68, carding six birdies and a pair of bogeys to lead UT Tyler in their first round of 2023-24. He matched four birdies and four bogeys in the afternoon round to post even-par 71 and slide into a tie for fourth place at three-under par for the day.
 
Junior Gage Burnham provided consistent support for the Wray-Naeger duo, carding rounds of 73-72 for a 145 total and a tie for 19^th sitting on the individual leaderboard. Senior Alex Kopenhaver shot 74 and 76 to provide the fourth counting scores in each round for the Patriots and will enter the final round in a tie for 50^th at 150 for the tournament.
 
Senior Carter Lewis sits in a tie for 84^th place following rounds of 77-80.
 
UT Tyler is in position to collect what could be their fourth team crown of the Division II era on Tuesday morning in a 17-team field stocked full of teams that will compete for top 25 standing throughout 2023-24.