May 18, 2007

SUGAR GROVE, Ill. - Junior Dawie Van Der Walt holds the 36-hole lead and Lamar University fired a 7-under par 281 to move into third place following Friday's second round at the NCAA Central Regional hosted by Northern Illinois University at Rich Harvest Farms (Par-72, 7.214-yards).

Lamar, who shot a season-worst round of 25-over 313 Thursday, fired a 7-under 281 Friday and moved up to third place after starting its round tied for eighth. The Cardinals' 281 was the second-best round turned in on Friday, trailing only Tulsa's 8-under 280, and was one of just five rounds under par. The Golden Hurricane vaulted past first-round leader Louisville with a 36-hole total of 585. Louisville is second at 591. The Cardinals, who started their round on the back-nine Friday, are third at 594.

Van Der Walt, a junior from Cape Town, South Africa, fired a 3-under par 69. He was three under par for his opening nine holes until a bogey on the par-4 18th hole. He posted two birdies and a bogey on his inward nine holes, including making a birdie on the par-5 ninth hole.

After opening with a 1-under 71 on Thursday, Van Der Walt leads the 141-player field at 4-under 140. Louisville's Daryl Fathauer, who equaled Van Der Walt's opening round of 1-under 71, shot a second round 2-under 70 and is in second place with a 36-hole score of 3-under 141.

"I was pleased with the way we played today and we played up to our capabilities," said Lamar coach Brian White. "Obviously, the course conditions were much better today, but we also played much better today.

"We adjusted our strategy a little bit today by chipping out to the fairway when we hit into the rough. We just took our medicine and tried to make par. That strategy, coupled with us being able to get up and down from around the green a little better, allowed us to get back in the tournament. Now our goal is to go out tomorrow and play like we did today and see if we can't win this regional."

Oliver Bekker, a sophomore from Stellenbosch, South Africa, blistered the course for a 4-under 68 Friday, which tied for the second-best round of the day and trailed only Michal Thompson of Alabama, who shot a 5-under 67. Bekker made three birdies on the back-nine. He made an eagle three on the par-5 second hole, which was his second eagle in as many days, and bogeyed the par-4 sixth hole. After posting an opening round 10-over 82, he is tied for 24th at 150.

Dusty Smith, a senior from The Woodlands, got off to a poor start by with bogeys on four of his first six holes. He regrouped with five birdies and seven pars the rest of the way, including posting a 4-under 32 on his inward nine holes, to post a 1-under 71. After opening with an 80, Smith is tied for 33rd with a 36-hole score of 151.

Justin Harding, a sophomore from Cape Town, South Africa, posted a 1-over 73. He made the turn at 1-under and made two birdies and four bogeys on the back-nine. After opening with an 81, Harding is tied for 56th at 154.

Casey Clendenon, a junior from Katy, made the turn at even par following two birdies and two bogeys. He made two more birdies on the inward nine, but added four bogeys for a 2-over 74. Clendenon, who posted an opening round 81, is tied for 66th at 155.

Arkansas' Andrew Landry, who played his freshman season at Lamar University last year, fired a 1-under 71. After an opening round of 74, Landry is tied for fifth place with a 36-hole score of 1-over 145. He was one of six individuals invited to participate in the Central Regional.

The 27-team field will play the final 18 holes Saturday to complete the 54-hole regional. The top 10 teams and two individuals not on one of those teams will advance to the NCAA Championship May 30-June 2 at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club in Williamsburg, Va.