MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Mercer University men’s golf team shot up the team standings with its lowest round in nearly two years, leading all 18 teams with an 11-under-par 277 to head into the final day of the Golfweek Program Challenge in second place.

Mercer’s big day helped the team jump nine places in the team standings with a two-round total of 566 (10-under). The Bears trail event leader Jacksonville (552) and lead third-place teams Elon (569) and Old Dominion (569).

The Bears’ total score of 277 is the program’s top mark during head coach Kirk Kayden’s career and the best score since carding a 272 during the second round of the Brickyard Collegiate Championship on their home course during the 2013-14 campaign.

In a round that featured several bright spots for the Bears, Jerry Ren’s second straight round under 70 may have been the brightest. The sophomore carded a career-best score for the second consecutive day, firing a 4-under 68 to move into a tie for fifth place overall.

Junior Sean Smothers had the best round of the day for Mercer, moving up a tournament-best 45 spots thanks to a 5-under 67. Smothers started the run with three straight birdies on the first nine and will head into the final day in a tie for 16th place with a total tally of 142.

Mercer freshman Dylan Deogun continued his impressive collegiate debut, finishing 1-under on the day. The Michigan native heads into the final round of his first collegiate tournament in a tie for seventh with a two-round score of 139.

Senior Jeffrey Heinicka matched his top score from the past two seasons, finishing with a 1-under 71. The Pinellas Park, Fla., native fell one stroke shy of his top mark of 70, which during the 2012-13 season at the Seminole Intercollegiate.