GREENSBORO, Ga. (May 13, 2007) -- After an opening morning round of 287, the 20th-ranked Georgia State men's golf team went low in the second round firing a 277 to move into third-place entering the final round of the Linger Longer Invitational at Reynolds Plantation.
The Panthers' 277 total was the lowest team score for the second round. State is five-shots behind first-place Georgia heading into the final round.
Senior Derek Oakey fired a 65 in the second round to claim a first-place tie with Georgia's Chris Kirk and Tennessee-Chattanooga's Jonathan Hodge at 7-under par for the tournament. Oakey's 65 was the tournament's low second round score, and is his new career-lowest score besting his previous career-low of 67 at this year's Colonial Athletic Championships.
"We had a lot of fans come out and cheer us on today," said head coach Matt Clark. "The team fed off the fans and that helped us in the second round. Derek had an amazing round and tied the course record. We are only five-shots back of Georgia, so we have a chance to make something happen tomorrow."
Sophomore Mark Haastrup is tied for 11th-place after a second round of score of 69. Senior Ben Taylor and freshman Tom Sherreard are tied for 25th-place. Taylor fired a 74 in the second round and Sherreard finished with a 71.
Junior Joel Sjoholm is tied for 37th-place after a second round total of 72.
The final round of the Linger Longer Invitational will take place Monday morning. Golfstat will provide live scoring of the event.
First Round Recap:
The Panthers fired a 287 to open the Linger Longer Invitational and sat tied for fifth-place with Louisville. Taylor led State in the morning round with a 2-under 70 and was tied for ninth-place. Oakey and Haastrup finished at even par with a pair of 72s and were tied for 23rd-place. Sjoholm and Sherreard opened with a pair of 73s to sit tied for 35th-place.
Linger Longer Invitational
Reynolds Plantation (Oconee Course)
7,393 yards, Par 72
1. Georgia 273 286 559 -17
2. Florida State Univ. 283 279 562 -14
3. Georgia State Univ. 287 277 564 -12
4. Tennessee-Chattanoog 288 282 570 -6
5. Georgia Southern 284 288 572 -4
6. Alabama, U. of 285 288 573 -3
T7. Louisville, U. of 287 287 574 -2
T7. Augusta State 289 285 574 -2
9. Memphis, U. of 290 285 575 -1
10. Charlotte 290 287 577 +1
11. Mississippi St. U. 296 288 584 +8
12. North Carolina 296 290 586 +10
13. Louisiana State U. 297 295 592 +16
14. Kennesaw St. Univ. 304 299 603 +27
15. Mercer University 314 298 612 +36
Individual Scores:
T1. Derek Oakey -7 F 72 65 137
T11. Mark Haastrup -3 F 72 69 141
T25. Ben Taylor E F 70 74 144
T25. Tom Sherreard E F 73 71 144
T37. Joel Sjoholm +1 F 73 72 145
