Western Carolina fourth, Poston in lead at Wolfpack Intercollegiate

RALEIGH, N.C. – Western Carolina sophomore J.T. Poston advanced 17 spots in the second round by carding a tournament-low-tying round of 4-under par 68 to lead the Catamounts into a tie for fourth place at the Wolfpack Intercollegiate, hosted by NC State at the par-72, 7,358-yard Lonnie Poole Golf Club.

The final round is scheduled for Saturday with tee times on both holes No. 1 and No. 10 beginning at 8 a.m.

Poston was one of two players to card the single lowest rounds of the opening day as first-round leader Patrick Barrett from North Carolina fired a 68 to lead through 18 holes with Poston rallying from a tie for 17th after the first round to stand tied atop the leader board after his 68 in the second round. He is tied with Maryland’s Andrew McCain, who fired back-to-back rounds of 1-under 71.

WCU posted rounds of 302 and 287 through Friday’s continuous-round play to stand tied with Maryland for fourth place at 13-over 589. East Carolina leads North Carolina – which is ranked 37th in the nation by GolfStat – by a stroke atop the 12-team field. The Pirates shot 1-over par 577, while the Tar Heels are a stroke in arrears after posting a 2-over par 578. Tournament host NC State is third, two strokes ahead of both the Catamounts and Terrapins at 587 to round out the top five.

Opening on the par-3 eighth hole for both rounds, Poston carded a 2-over par 74 through the first round, countering two bogeys and one double with two birdies. The second time through, the Hickory, N.C., native had 14 par scores with four birdies including three consecutive.

True freshman Tyler Lail posted consecutive rounds of 2-over 74 to stand in a four-way tie for 25th overall for WCU. Redshirt senior Kyle Wilson moved from a tie for 53rd after his opening-round 78 to fire an even-par 72 on the second 18 to stand tied with nine others for 32nd place.

Rounding out the Catamounts’ side is senior Steven Smith in a tie for 42nd with junior Jack Walsh in a tie for 57th at 154 (76-78) in his first action of the fall.

 

UNCG 11^th at Wolfpack Intercollegiate

RALEIGH, N.C. – The UNCG men's golf team sits in 11th place overall after 36 holes of stroke play Friday in the Wolfpack Intercollegiate hosted by NC State at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course.

The Spartans will wrap up play in the 54-hole event Saturday with round three tee times beginning at 8 a.m.

The Spartans posted a two-round score of 603 (299-304) and sits behind leader East Carolina at 577 (292-285). No. 37 North Carolina is second in the event with a 578 (287-291). Maryland's Andrew McCain and Western Carolina's J.T. Poston lead the Wolfpack Intercollegiate after day one as they are both at 2-under par 142.

Freshman Taylor Coalson leads the team after posting a 3-over par 147. Coalson continued his strong play at the start, firing a 1-under par 71 in round one before posting a 4-over par 76 in round two. He tallied four birdies in the first round to rally after notching a bogey and double bogey in his first four holes of the morning.

Freshman Luke Haithcock is tied with senior Robert Hoadley and sophomore Roy Dixon for second-highest score of the afternoon as they are tied for 52nd place with 9-over par 153s. Haithcock turned in a 2-over par 74 in round two, while Dixon opened the tournament with a 2-over par 74 in the first round to highlight the day.

Freshman Will Brown made his collegiate debut Friday playing as one of the Spartans’ two individuals. Brown turned in an 11-over par score of 155, including a 3-over par 75 in his second round of play.

 

Appalachian State seventh at Mission Inn Intercollegiate

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – Appalachian State’s men's golf team concluded round one of the Mission Inn Fall Intercollegiate on Friday. The Mountaineers are in seventh place after round one with a 304 (+16).

Josh Nichols led the Mountaineers on day one, carding a 73 (+1), which puts him in a tie for fourth overall. Senior Jay Brown is in a tie for 23rd after day one, shooting a 76 (+4), while Casey Komline is one stroke behind and tied for 28th with a 77 (+5).

Redshirt senior Drew Harris is tied for 35th overall after carding a 78 (+6) on day one, and Daniel Walsh is tied for 38th overall scoring a 79 (+7) on the afternoon.

Stetson leads after carding a 294 (+6), while St. Johns is in second with 298 (+10) and Johnson and Wales (Fla.) follows one stroke behind with a 299 (+11).

Appalachian State will be back in action Saturday at Rolling Hills Golf Course. Tee time is scheduled for 7:30 a.m.