LOXLEY, Ala. – Niilo Maki-Petaja continued his hot start to the season, shooting four under in both rounds as the Louisiana Tech Golf team wrapped up 36 holes Saturday at the Steelwood Collegiate.
 
LA Tech was tied for 10th after shooting 290 (+2) in round one, but the Bulldogs climbed two spots to finish the day in a tie for 8th at the Steelwood Golf Club with a second-round score of 286 (-2).   
 
Coming off back-to-back top-10 finishes, Maki-Petaja was the lone Bulldog to finish in the red after 18 holes.  The sophomore was two under going to his final two holes, both par fives.  He would drain an eagle on No. 9 and then wrap up with a par on No. 10 to shoot 68. 
 
Jake Plumb and Oskari Schuvalow both shot 73 (+1) while the freshmen pair of Freddie Surgey and Morton Bailey each shot 76 (+4). 
 
Maki-Petaja was one over after 10 holes in his second round, but the top-100 player turned it on after that, making birdies on five of his last eight holes to shoot another 68 (-4).  He will enter the final round in a tie for third on the player leaderboard.
 
He was not the only Bulldog to shoot under par in round two this time.  Surgey rebounded to tie his season low with a 69 (-3).  He got off to a quality start, making back-to-back birdies on No. 14 and No. 15.  Birdies on both par fives on the front nine helped him shoot three under and finish the day one over and in a tie for 32nd.
 
Plumb matched his first round with another 73 (+1), making him tied for 38th.  Bailey was the fourth scorecard used for LA Tech in round two with his second 76 (+4).
 
No. 12 Illinois has a three-shot lead over Kansas State.
 
NOTABLES

• LA Tech shot 286 (-2) in round two, its sixth round (out of 11) this season shooting at or under par as a team. 
• Niilo Maki-Petaja has now shot at or under par in nine of his 11 rounds this season.  Six of those rounds he has shot four under par or better.  He is now at -30 this season.
• The two 68s is tied for the fourth lowest round by a Bulldog this season.
• Freddie Surgey tied his season low with a 69 (-3).  The freshman now has five rounds at or under par this season.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will play the third and final round of the Steelwood Collegiate on Sunday.  Morton Bailey will be the first Bulldog to tee off at 7:45 a.m. CT from hole No. 1.
 
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