Kats in eighth entering Tuesday's final round
10/17/2016 11:26:00 PM | Men's Golf
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LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Sam Houston State men's golf shot a 16-over, 584, to sit in eighth place through the opening 36 holes at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate from the 7,242 yard, par-71 New Mexico State University Golf Course on Monday.
The Bearkats, who enter Tuesday's final round nine strokes back of fifth place, have been led by Camden DeBonis, who is competing as an individual. The sophomore is tied for sixth place after following up an opening-round 73 with a second-round 68 for a 1-under, 141.
The Allen product is seven strokes off the lead, held by Grand Canyon's Matt McClung at 8-under, 134. As a team, Grand Canyon blew away the competition on the opening day, shooting 11-under, 557, 12 strokes ahead of Missouri-Kansas City, who is in second at 1-over, 569.
After shooting an opening-round 69, Sam Houston's Mason Weld came away with a second-round 75, dropping 11 spots while still posting an impressive 2-over, 144, for a six-way tie in 17th. Teammate Andrew Ertel (72-72 – 144) is among those tied with Weld after leaping eight spots.
In his first tournament back after missing last week with back issues, Jake McCrory (74-75 – 149) is locked in a nine-way tie for 41st at 7-over, 149. Despite dropping one stroke in his second round, the junior vaulted nine spots ahead and is just five strokes out of the top 20 in the tightly packed field.
Jesse Massengale (73-76 – 149) joins McCrory at 7-over while Dominick Gennuso (80-74 – 154) saw the biggest leap during the second round, moving ahead 12 spots to finish in a four-way tie for 69th at 12-over.
Tuesday's final round shotgun start will begin at 9:30 a.m. The Kats, who are among 14 teams at the tournament, are seeking to improve on last year's seventh-place finisher at the event. UTEP is currently in third place (4-over, 572), followed by the host Aggies (6-over, 574) and Wichita State (7-over, 575) in fifth.
Odessa College (11-over, 579) is five strokes ahead of the Kats in sixth while Southland rival Stephen F. Austin (15-over, 583) is one stroke up entering the final day.
