Tuesday, April 23
Texarkana, AR
18 Holes
Louisiana Tech University
vs
CUSA Championship
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Photo by: Kane McGuire
Bulldogs Remain in First after Round Two in Texarkana
4/23/2024 4:16:00 PM | Men's Golf
LA Tech has an eight-stroke lead going into the final round of stroke play at the CUSA Championship
TEXARKANA, Ark. – Louisiana Tech withstood tough pin locations and windier conditions on Wednesday to shoot 294 (+6) and maintain an eight-stroke lead in round two of the 2024 Conference USA Men's Golf Championship at the Texarkana Country Club.
LA Tech shot the third-best round of the day, securing two rounds at or under par but still managed to increase its lead by one stroke. The Bulldogs are eight strokes ahead of second-place Liberty and are looking to stay in the top four after Wednesday's final round in order to quality for match play.
Hunter Battles was the first to tee off and ended up securing the best round for LA Tech, shooting 71 (-1). The fifth-year senior had nine straight pars on the front nine before dropping in his first birdie on the par 4 No. 10.
His lone bogey came on the par 4 No. 15, but he backed that up with another birdie on the par 5 No. 16 after making it on the green in two. As a result, he jumped 16 spots on the player leaderboard into a tie for seventh.
Niilo Maki-Petaja came into the round tied for third and finished the second round in the same spot after shooting 72 (E). The freshman tallied back-to-back birdies on No. 7 and No. 8 to shoot a 35 on the front. The lone miscue on the back was a bogey on the par 4 No. 14 with the other eight being pars.
Lake Juban, who was tied for the lead after 18 holes, shot 75 (+3) to drop the fifth-year senior into a tie for fourth. Between holes five and 13 he dropped in three birdies, but those were erased by three bogeys on the final five holes.
The fourth and final scoreboard used for the Bulldogs was that of Thomas Henson who shot 76 (+4), putting him in a tie for 11th. The senior's best stretch came through the first eight holes where he was one under.
QUOTABLES
Head coach Matt Terry
"We did what we had to do today. We did not do anything majorly wrong aside from a couple of doubles on the first hole. The pins were more difficult today and there was more wind. The course was different. I was pleased with the team though. They were steady and I am happy to see us in the same place on the leaderboard as we were yesterday. We still have some work to do tomorrow in order to get into match play."
NOTABLES
LA Tech will look to finish in the top four after round three of stroke play on Wednesday in order to advance to match play. The Bulldogs will be paired with Liberty with the first tee time set for 8 a.m. CT.
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For all the latest in Bulldog Golf, follow us on Twitter (@LATechGolf), Instagram (@LATech_Golf), and Facebook (LATechGolf).
LA Tech shot the third-best round of the day, securing two rounds at or under par but still managed to increase its lead by one stroke. The Bulldogs are eight strokes ahead of second-place Liberty and are looking to stay in the top four after Wednesday's final round in order to quality for match play.
Hunter Battles was the first to tee off and ended up securing the best round for LA Tech, shooting 71 (-1). The fifth-year senior had nine straight pars on the front nine before dropping in his first birdie on the par 4 No. 10.
His lone bogey came on the par 4 No. 15, but he backed that up with another birdie on the par 5 No. 16 after making it on the green in two. As a result, he jumped 16 spots on the player leaderboard into a tie for seventh.
Niilo Maki-Petaja came into the round tied for third and finished the second round in the same spot after shooting 72 (E). The freshman tallied back-to-back birdies on No. 7 and No. 8 to shoot a 35 on the front. The lone miscue on the back was a bogey on the par 4 No. 14 with the other eight being pars.
Lake Juban, who was tied for the lead after 18 holes, shot 75 (+3) to drop the fifth-year senior into a tie for fourth. Between holes five and 13 he dropped in three birdies, but those were erased by three bogeys on the final five holes.
The fourth and final scoreboard used for the Bulldogs was that of Thomas Henson who shot 76 (+4), putting him in a tie for 11th. The senior's best stretch came through the first eight holes where he was one under.
QUOTABLES
Head coach Matt Terry
"We did what we had to do today. We did not do anything majorly wrong aside from a couple of doubles on the first hole. The pins were more difficult today and there was more wind. The course was different. I was pleased with the team though. They were steady and I am happy to see us in the same place on the leaderboard as we were yesterday. We still have some work to do tomorrow in order to get into match play."
NOTABLES
- LA Tech has three Bulldogs in the top 10 going into round three.
- After two rounds, LA Tech leads the field in both Par 3s (3.13 average) and Par 5s (4.70 average).
- The Bulldogs totaled 11 birdies in round two to bring their tournament total to 31.
- Hunter Battles recorded his seventh round in the red this season, shooting 71 (-1).
- Niilo Maki-Petaja registered his 18th round at or under par.
LA Tech will look to finish in the top four after round three of stroke play on Wednesday in order to advance to match play. The Bulldogs will be paired with Liberty with the first tee time set for 8 a.m. CT.
FOLLOW US
For all the latest in Bulldog Golf, follow us on Twitter (@LATechGolf), Instagram (@LATech_Golf), and Facebook (LATechGolf).
Players Mentioned
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