The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Gary Koch Intercollegiate
Blazers In 13th Through Two Rounds Of Gary Koch Intercollegiate
10/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Oct. 3, 2009
TAMPA, Fla. - Behind the play of freshman Philip Kaiser, the UAB men's golf team carded back-to-back rounds of 287 to result in a team score of two-under par 574 through two rounds of the Gary Koch Intercollegiate on Saturday. The Blazers are currently in 13th place overall in a 15-team field that features five teams ranked in the top 25 and 10 teams ranked among the top 50 in the nation.
"I thought we played very good," UAB head coach Alan Kaufman said. "I'm a little surprised that we are in 13th overall considering how well we played, but this is a very good field. If we can play the same way Sunday, I think we can finish near the middle of the pack, which would be good."
Kaiser, playing in only his second career tournament at UAB, recorded a career-best 18-hole mark of 70 in both the first and second rounds to finish the day with a four-under par 140. At four-under par entering the final round, Kaiser is tied for 18th overall.
"I thought Philip played real good," Kaufman said. "In fact, I don't think anyone played bad today. If we can keep playing like this, we are going to be fine."
Senior John Darby also finished the day under par, carding a one-under par 143 (72-71) and is in a tie for 34th overall. Senior Adam West carded an even-par 144 after back-to-back rounds of 72 and is tied for 42nd overall. Senior Blake West, Adam's twin brother, is in a tie for 60th overall with a 148 (73-75), while sophomore Jason Shufflebotham rounds out UAB with a 149 (75-74).
The Blazers will enter Sunday's final 18 holes just 10 strokes out of fifth place on the par-72, 7,289-yard Old Memorial golf course. Texas Tech, ranked 35th in the country, leads the field after carding a 26-under par 550 (271-279), including a course record of 271 in the opening round. Seventh-ranked Florida State is second with a 554, followed by No. 8 Florida (560). Virginia, ranked 31st in the country, is currently in fourth overall with a 561, while No. 27 Augusta State and Georgia Southern are tied for fifth at 564.
Sunday's third and final round will begin at 8 a.m. ET, with the Blazers first tee time set at 9:03 a.m. ET.
