March 26, 2007

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Sophomore Justin Harding is in second place, one shot off the lead, and Lamar University holds the team lead following Monday's first two rounds at the First Tee Collegiate Classic hosted by Arkansas-Little Rock at Chenal Country Club (Par-72, 7,115-yards).

A native of Cape Town, South Africa, Harding opened with a 4-under par 68 in the morning and fired a 5-under 67 in the after for a 36-hole score of 9-under 135. Robert Gwin of Sam Houston State fired consecutive rounds of 5-under 67 for a 10-under 134. Keith Becker, Jr. of UALR is third at 7-under 137.

Lamar opened with an 11-under 277 and shared the 18-hole lead with Sam Houston State. The Cardinals fired a 16-under 272 in the afternoon and holds the 36-hole lead at 27-under 549. Sam Houston is second at 561, followed by Texas-San Antonio (564), Middle Tennessee State (567) and Louisiana Tech (570) to round out the top five in the 17-team field.

Senior Dusty Smith and junior Dawie Van Der Walt are tied for fifth place at 5-under 139. Smith, a native of The Woodlands, opened with a 3-under 69 and followed with a 2-under 70. Van Der Walt, a native of Cape Town, South Africa, shot a 71 in the morning and a 68 in the afternoon.

Casey Clendenon, a junior from Katy, opened with a 1-over 73 but fired a 5-under 67 in the afternoon and is in 11th place at 4-under 140. Oliver Bekker, a sophomore from Stellenbosch, South Africa, opened with a 69 but slipped to a 74 in the afternoon and is tied for 18th place at 1-under 143. Ryan Kornmann, a senior from Kingwood, is playing as an individual for the Cardinals this week and his scores will not count toward Lamar's team total. He is tied for 24th at even-par 70-74--144.

The field will play the final 18 holes today beginning at 8 a.m. to complete the 54-hole event.