Men's Golf Southern Conference

Bucs move up seven spots to fourth at U.S. Collegiate

ETSU jumps to fourth at U.S. Collegiate Championship

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Needing to make a move to get into contention at the U.S. Collegiate Championship, the ETSU men’s golf team did so in fine fashion on Saturday afternoon at The Golf Club of Georgia – Lakeside Course.

Facing windy conditions, the Buccaneers – who were the last group to tee off on Saturday – registered the lowest team score in second-round play. ETSU fired a 6-under-par 282 and moved into fourth place among the 17-team field, which features seven teams ranked in the top 10 (12 total in the top 25). Overall, the Bucs are 1-under-par 575 following the first two rounds.

Wake Forest takes a one-shot lead into Sunday’s final round as the third-ranked Demon Deacons posted a 3-under 285 in round two and are 7-under-par 569 for the tournament. Top-ranked Auburn – who also recorded a 3-under 285 on Saturday – is in second at 6-under-par 570, while No. 4 Florida State is third at 4-under-par 572.

For the second straight day, senior Gudmundur Kristjansson led the Blue and Gold, as he carded four birdies and 14 pars en route to finishing with a 4-under 68. Kristjansson collected his four birdies in his first nine holes and sits three shots back at 5-under-par 139.

Auburn’s Will Long sits atop the individual leaderboard at 8-under-par 136, while Cameron Young (Wake Forest) is one shot behind and Virginia’s Derek Bard – who began the day with the lead – is two strokes behind at 6-under-par 138.

Overall, the Bucs’ solid team performance also stemmed from senior Adrian Meronk moving 14 spots up the board as he’s one of six golfers tied for 11th at 2-under-par 142. Meronk totaled four birdies and two bogeys en route to carding a 2-under 70 on Saturday. Like Meronk, redshirt freshman Conor Rodrigues also shot a 70 in round two, marking his lowest collegiate round. Rodrigues and Mateusz Gradecki are tied for 35th at 3-over-par 147, while freshman Geuntae Kim moved nine spots up the leaderboard following a 2-over-par 74 and is tied for 74th.

Sunday’s final round begins at 8 a.m., while the Bucs go out at 11:30. ETSU will be paired with Clemson and Stanford.