HUMBLE, Texas – Coming off its worst finish of the season, the Louisiana Tech golf team played some of its best golf on a challenging course, in difficult conditions, against some of the best teams in the country.
 
After the conclusion of 36 holes, LA Tech finds itself in eighth (only seven strokes back of second) among the 21-team field at the Golf Club of Houston. 
 
Just like last week down south in Lafayette, the Bulldogs were faced with temperatures in the 40s and winds between 10-15 mph. 
 
LA Tech withstood the early morning chill in round one, carding a 296 (+8) to put them in 12th at the end of 18 holes.  Fifth-year senior James Swash was the top Bulldog in the round, going bogey-free for a 71 (-1).  Thomas Henson was steady as well, shooting 73 (+1) with one birdie and two bogeys while Lake Juban and Hunter Battles both shot 76 (+4). 
 
After registering just six birdies as a team in round one, the birdies came in bunches during round two.  So much so, the Bulldogs carded the lowest round two in the entire field (a field that includes six top-50 teams) and the second lowest round of the entire day with a 285 (-3) to jump up four spots to eighth.
 
Henson was the anchor this time around, putting together a season-best 67 (-5) with seven birdies (birdied four his last six holes).  It tied for the lowest round of any Bulldog this season and tied for the lowest round of the day among the 108 players.
     
As a result, the junior sits in a tie for fourth individually at -4 (73-67=140) going into round three. 
 
Meanwhile, Juban rode four birdies on the back nine to put together a second-round score of 71 (-1).  Right behind him was Battles who shot 73 (+1) followed by Payne Johnson who shot 74 (+2). 
 
Juban and Swash are tied for 34th individually going into Tuesday.
 
Three Bulldogs – Payne Johnson, Joel Thomas Stephens, and Alejandro Sanchez – also competed as individuals on the Golf Club of Houston Member Course.  Johnson had the best day of the three, shooting +12 (76-76=152).
 
QUOTABLES
Interim Head Coach Colton Primm
 
"I am really proud of the way our guys competed.  We really challenged them after the poor showing in Lafayette last week, and they responded today.  Despite the difficult conditions, we played some of our best golf on the hardest holes.  We are playing with a lot of confidence right now, and if we can continue to play that way tomorrow, we will put ourselves in contention for a strong finish."
 
UP NEXT
LA Tech plays the third and final round of the All-American Intercollegiate tomorrow.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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