MOBILE, Ala. – The Louisiana Tech Golf team shot its second-lowest round of the season on Tuesday, carding a 281 (-3) to help the Bulldogs tie for seventh at the Hal Williams Collegiate played at the Magnolia Grove Golf Club.
 
Three Bulldogs – Niilo Maki-Petaja, Thomas Henson, and Hunter Battles – finished in the red in round three as LA Tech shot 286-287-281=854 (+2) for the tournament. 
 
Reigning Conference USA Golfer of the Week Maki-Petaja continued his consistent play after his 4th-place finish at the Sea Best Invitational.  The freshman shot at or under par in all three rounds, carding 71-71-70=212 (-1) to tie for 21st as an individual.
 
Also tying for 21st was Thomas Henson, playing in his first event of the season after recovering from injury, as the senior shot 73-69-70=212 (-1).  The final red scorecard on Tuesday came from Battles who tied for 31st after shooting 70-75-69=214 (+1).
 
Joel Thomas Stephens was the fourth score used for LA Tech in round three, shooting 72 (+1) for his best round of the tournament.  Will Patrick (individual) and Lake Juban each shot 73 (+2) on Tuesday, finishing tied for 41st and 46th, respectively.
 
Top-25 Illinois would take the title, holding off a late surge by LSU to shoot -25 (827).   
 
NOTABLES

• The six Bulldogs competing combined for eight rounds of at or under par for the event.
• The 281 (-3) was the second-lowest round of the season for LA Tech (lowest round was -7 at the Argent Financial Classic).
• LA Tech, who tied with Southern Miss for 7th, defeated Oral Roberts (119), Texas State (114), Memphis (99), Kent State (66), Seton Hall (141), and UL-Lafayette (109).
• Niilo Maki-Petaja has finished in the top 25 in four of six tournaments this season.
• Niilo Maki-Petaja extended his streak of six straight rounds at or under par.
• Hunter Battles tied his season-best round by shooting -2 (69).

UP NEXT
LA Tech will return to action in a month when they travel south to participate in the Louisiana Classics in Lafayette on March 11-12.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in Bulldog Golf, follow us on Twitter (@LATechGolf), Instagram (@LATech_Golf), and Facebook (LATechGolf).