The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Billy Hitchcock Invitational
Thomas Makes Run At Hitchcock Intercollegiate
4/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
April 9, 2005
AUBURN, Ala. - Ryan Thomas made a charge Saturday in the second round of the Billy Hitchcock Intercollegiate golf tournament hosted by Auburn University. The UAB senior fired a one-under-par 71 to vault into a tie for fifth place overall, but within two strokes of second place and seven from the lead with a round to play.
Thomas's move highlighted UAB's second round 300 team score which dropped the Blazers into seventh place after a fifth place tie with South Alabama after day one. The top of the leaderboard is tight, however, and UAB stands just five strokes out of third place. No. 6 Auburn continues to lead the way, but shot a 299 Saturday, putting them just three shots ahead of Memphis.
"Ryan is in great shape," UAB head coach Alan Kaufman said. "Overall, we had a couple of high scores that hurt us a little bit, but we're still within striking distance. If we play good tomorrow, we can still can come in third, which would be a good tournament for us."
UAB's 599 is two strokes behind South Alabama and No. 17 Georgia State, which are tied for fifth in the team standings. Auburn's two round total of 582 is three shots ahead of Memphis's 585. Charlotte (594) and Ole Miss (595) follow close behind. The Blazers are six strokes ahead of Jacksonville State (605). Mississippi State (606), the College of Charleston (610), Southeast Louisiana (614) and Illinois (615) round out the field.
Thomas stands at even par after two rounds. His 73-71 rounds have him tied with Auburn's Lee Williams for fifth overall. Memphis standout Ian Rochester followed an outstanding seven-under 65 yesterday with a par 72 today and has a five shot lead on three golfers tied for second at two-under for the two rounds. Jordan Dempsey of Ole Miss, South Alabama's Johnny Caldwell and Keven Fortin-Simard of Memphis each stand at two-under, 142 for the tournament.
UAB's Clark Brown followed Friday's 76 with a par 72 Saturday and is tied with five other golfers for 15th at four-over-par, 148. One of those five is sophomore Garrett Osborn, who shot three-over 75 Saturday. Freshman Kaylor Timmons's 82 Saturday puts him at 159 for the two rounds and tied for 54th. Chris Cousins carded an 83 Saturday and stands tied for 56th at 160 for the tournament
The three-round, three-day tournament concludes with the third and final round Sunday on the par-72, 7,207-yard Auburn University Club course at Yarbrough Farms. Live scoring can be found online at www.bamagolf.com. The Hitchcock Intercollegiate is UAB's final test before competing in the Conference USA Tournament on April 18-20 in Biloxi, Miss.
