Kats combat conditions, in the mix at Oak Hills
2/8/2016 9:17:00 PM | Men's Golf
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Through two rounds at the 2016 UTSA Oak Hills Invitational, the Sam Houston State men's golf sits in eighth at 30-over, 598, with just eight strokes separating the fourth through eighth place teams from San Antonio's par-71, 6,765-yard Oak Hills Country Club.
“The conditions were cold and windy,” fourth-year head coach Brandt Kieschnick said. “I thought we competed well. With two holes left in the first round, we were in second place and I think we were sixth after the first round. We played solid in the second. We made a couple mistakes coming in. We're bunched right in there with the rest of the group.”
Freshman Mason Weld and junior Andrew Ertel pace play for the Bearkats at 7-over, 149, and are among eight players tied for 26th. No. 11 Oklahoma and No. 44 Baylor are tied for the lead at 7-over, 575, while the Bears Freddy Anderson is the individual leader 2-under, 140.
Redshirt freshman Jesse Massengale and freshman Camden DeBonis, who eagled the 10th hole during his second round, concluded the day in a seven-way tie for 40th at 9-over, 151, both following up a first-round 74 with a second round 77.
After shooting an opening-round 77, Ertel climbed 21 spots up the leaderboard, firing a second-round 72. Weld surged as well, shooting a second-round 73 to vault ahead 11 spots. Along with DeBonis, Ertel tapped in five birdies while Massengale put in six.
“I think during the beginning of their round, they got off to a tough start,” Kieschnick said of Ertel and Weld. “They settled down and played really steady the last 27 holes. I think they got used to the conditions and got their rhythm.”
Sam Houston sophomore Jake McCrory (75-81 – 156) sits in a tie for 65th and freshman Sean Foley (81-79 – 160), competing as an individual, is tied for 73rd.
Louisiana Tech sits in third at 18-over, 586, followed by McNeese State in fourth (22-over, 590), Southeastern Louisiana (23-over, 591), North Texas (26-over, 594) and Houston Baptist in seventh at 28-over, 596. UTSA (32-over, 600) and Texas State (34-over, 602) round out the top 10.
The final round of play begins at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday. McCrory tees off with the opening group, followed by DeBonis at 7:39 a.m., Massengale at 7:48 a.m., Ertel at 7:57 a.m. and Weld at 8:06 a.m. Meanwhile, Foley will tee off on the 10th hole at 9 a.m.
“We knew it would be tough today,” Kieschnick said of the conditions. “If you play a solid round, you can really separate yourself. These guys did a really good job of executing our game plan. We are still right there for a good finish so we're excited.”
