JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Louisiana Tech put together two solid rounds of golf to kick off the spring portion of its schedule, ending day one of The Hayt in third place at the Sawgrass Country Club on Sunday.
 
LA Tech shot 291 (+3) as a team to put itself in fourth after round one.  The Bulldogs then moved up a spot with two holes still left to be played by Thomas Henson to put a wrap on round two (stopped due to darkness).
 
The 'Dogs quickly jumped to the top of the leaderboard in the early going, sinking a combined eight birdies on the first five holes (started on No. 7).  Three of those were courtesy of James Swash who shot a bogey-free 69 (-3) to lead the squad.
 
The remaining three scores came from Lake Juban, Hunter Battles, and Henson who all carded 74s (+2).
 
Round two started out much the same way for LA Tech, capitalizing on the par fives to shoot -6.  Juban tore up the front nine, carding a 32 in route to leading the squad with a season-low 68 (-4). 
 
Swash was able to erase back-to-back double bogeys on No. 13 and 14 with four birdies.  A bogey on No. 1 gave him a 73 (+1).  Both Swash and Juban going into third round tied for 11th on the player leaderboard at 142 (-2).
 
Battle matched his first-round effort with a 74 (+2) while Henson is bogey free at 64 (-1) with No. 5 and No. 6 still to play.
 
LA Tech trails only Vanderbilt (No. 1 team in the country) and host North Florida. 
 
NOTABLES

• LA Tech's 291 tied for the fourth best round of the 2022-23 season for the Bulldogs.
• James Swash reached red numbers for the third time this season (69 is his second best round of the season).
• Lake Juban reached red numbers for the fourth time this season. His season-low 68 is the second best round of any Bulldog this season.
• Lake Juban's five birdies in round two tied for the third most birdies in a single round this season.

UP NEXT
LA Tech returns for the third and final round of The Hayt on Monday.  The Bulldogs will first tee off at 9 a.m. CT.
 
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