The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
John Hayt Intercollegiate
UAB In Fourth Through Two Rounds Of John Hayt Intercollegiate
2/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Feb. 23, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's golf team finished the second round of play on Monday at the John Hayt Intercollegiate and will enter Tuesday's third and final round in fourth overall with a team score of 604 (298-306). The Blazers are among a 15-team field that features nine teams ranked in the top 50 in the nation. Seven of those teams will enter the last round trailing UAB, including the likes of No. 3 Alabama and No. 14 Tennessee.
"I feel really good about where we are right now heading into the final round," UAB head coach Alan Kaufman said. "If we play well tomorrow we'll be in great shape for a strong finish. I am happy with where we are and we just need to keep getting better."
Two-time All-American Zack Sucher continues to lead UAB through the opening 36 holes. After shooting an even par 72 in Sunday's first round, Sucher finished the second round with a two-over 74 and will enter the final 18 holes in sixth overall with a two-over 146. The Mobile, Ala. native is five strokes back of Zack Byrd from Coastal Carolina and Arizona State's James Byrne, who share the overall lead with a three-under par 141 (71-70).
Senior Kaylor Timmons continues his impressive play this spring. The Fort Payne, Ala. native followed his opening round of 74 with a three-over 75 on Monday. Timmons will enter the final day in a tie for ninth overall with a five-over par 149.
Junior Adam West had some bad luck during his second round. West's putter broke on the fourth hole and due to an NCAA rule, he was not allowed to replace the club until the round was over. Therefore, West had to putt with his wedge over the remaining 13 holes, resulting in a 10-over par 82. Nevertheless, the Montgomery, Ala. native is in a tie for 45th overall with a 156 (74-82).
"Adam certainly had some bad luck," Kaufman said. "Considering he had to putt the majority of the round with his wedge, he really hung in there."
Junior Cathal O'Malley (78-79) and sophomore Jason Shufflebotham (79-78) round out UAB with a 157 to place in a tie for 57th overall.
LSU (591), ranked No. 30 in the nation, stormed into lead after posting the best round of the day with a team score of 295. The Tigers will enter the final round with a two-stroke lead over 10th-ranked Arizona State (593). Georgia Southern is in third (600), while Georgia State, ranked 48th in the country, rounds out the top five with a 607, three strokes behind the Blazers.
The third and final round will begin on Tuesday morning, with the first wave of groups teeing off at 8 a.m. ET. All the action can be followed live by going to Golfstat.com.
