April 24, 2012

Results

McKINNEY - If Lamar is to win its 24th Southland Conference team title in men's golf, it will have to rebound from a disappointing second round Tuesday at Stonebridge Ranch Country Club.

Lamar held the opening round lead after an even-par 288, but faltered to a 22-over par 310 on the par-72, 7,346-yard Pete Dye Signature Course. Central Arkansas will carry a 7-stroke lead into Wednesday's final round of the Southland Conference Championship after shooting a round two best of 300.

Lamar, Central Arkansas and UT Arlington will be grouped together in Wednesday's final round. The Cardinals' first golfer is scheduled to tee off the first tee at 8:50 a.m.

UCA leads the 10-team field with a two-round total of 591 (+15). Lamar, which has won seven of the last 11 SLC titles, stands in second at 598 (+22), with UT Arlington (600), Stephen F. Austin (601), and Texas State (608) rounding out the top five. Tournament favorite Southeastern Louisiana stands in sixth at 614, following by Sam Houston State (615), UTSA (622), Nicholls (629), and McNeese State (630).

Lamar Senior M.J. Daffue, the defending tournament champion, currently leads the Cardinals in a tie for third. Daffue, who opened with an even-par 72, carded a second round 74 for a 36-hole total of 146 (+2).

Daffue finished his second round with four birdies, four bogeys, and a double bogey. The native South African picked up a birdie on the par-5 16th hole to close his round with momentum.

UCA's Antonio Costa was one of only two players to break par Tuesday, and currently holds the lead with a two-round total of 1-under par 143. Costa opened with a 72, and followed with a 71 for a two stroke lead over SFA's Mitchell McLeroy in the 50-player field.

LU Freshman Luke Jerling, playing in his first ever conference tournament, is tied for eighth at 5-over par 149. After an opening round 72 Monday, Jerling carded a second round 77, which included two birdies, five bogeys, and a double bogey.

Perhaps most disappointing for the Cardinals in round two was the play of senior Xavier Feyaerts who held the 18-hole lead after a bogey-free 69. Fayearts dropped to a tie for fourteenth Tuesday after struggling to an 82 for a two round total of 151 (+7).

Senior Kevin Hesbois, who tied for fifth as a freshman when Lamar won its last conference team title, stands tied for 24th after posting rounds of 75 and 80. After struggling to a 43 on the front nine Tuesday, Hesbois rebounded for a 1-over par 37 on the back.

Redshirt Junior Erik Knudsen helped the Cardinals in round two with a 7-over par 79. Knudsen also posted an opening round 80, for a two round total of 159 (+15), and stands tied for 38th.

LAMAR