LAFAYETTE, La. – After two rounds of golf Monday at Oakbourne Golf Club, Louisiana Tech is in eighth among a 15-team field at the 39th annual Louisiana Classics.
 
LA Tech was tied for 9th after shooting 290 (+2) in round one, but the Bulldogs moved up a spot on the leaderboard in round two after carding a 287 (-1).  They head into round three just seven shots back of third.
 
The story of the first 18 holes was the finish for Hunter Battles.  The graduate senior +2 before reeling off four birdies in the span of five holes to shoot a team-best 70 (-2).  The second-best scorecard was that of freshman Niilo Maki-Petaja who overcame an early double bogey to shoot a 72 (E).
 
Senior Thomas Henson, playing in his second tournament of the season after returning from injury, was right behind Maki-Petaja with a 73 (+1) followed by Will Patrick who carded a 75 (+3).
 
The second round was highlighted by Maki-Petaja.  After opening the next 18 holes with a bogey, he ripped through the rest of the course with four birdies on top of a finishing eagle on the Par 5 No. 11 to shoot 68 (-4).  The Bulldog enters round three tied for fifth on the player leaderboard.
 
Battles did not have any birdies on his second scoreboard, but he also eagled the Par 5 No. 11 to shoot 73 (+1), finishing the day tied for 18th going into the last round.
 
Lake Juban bounced back from his first round to shoot 72 (E), sinking birdies on No. 1, No. 2, No. 10, and No. 11.  Henson had his score used for a second time, shooting 74 (+2). 
 
Playing as an individual was Gray Kingrea who carded a 75 (+3) in round one and a season-best 71 (-1) in round two.

NOTABLES

• LA Tech shot 287 (-1) in round two, its third lowest round of the season.
• The Bulldogs shot -11 on the Par 5s, third best among the field.
• LA Tech registered two eagles, second most of any team in the field.
• Niilo Maki-Petaja extended his streak of rounds at or under par to eight.
• Niilo Maki-Petaja's 68 (-4) is the second lowest round of the season by any Bulldog.
• Hunter Battles registered his seventh round at or under par this season.
• Gray Kingrea shot a season-low 71 (-1) in round two.

UP NEXT
LA Tech will close out the 39th annual Louisiana Classics on Tuesday with the third round.  Kingrea tees off from No. 1 at 7:30 a.m. while the first team member tees off from No. 10 at 7:39 a.m.  The event will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
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