May 15, 2015
Live Scoring / Tee Times
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (SMU) -- The SMU Mustangs men's golf team did their best to secure a spot in the NCAA Championship field, jumping to the top of the leaderboard after day two at the NCAA Noblesville Regional on Friday at The Sagamore Golf Club. SMU was the only team to shoot an even-par round, and will enter the final day with a four-stroke lead.
Through 36 holes, the Mustangs are 3-under par after carding an even-par 288 on Friday. Junior Ryan Burgess and sophomore Andrew Buchanan shot identical 1-under 71's in the second round to lead the Mustangs. Burgess bounced back after carding an 85 yesterday, improving by 14 strokes with an eagle and five birdies.
"The team did a great job today," SMU head coach Jason Enloe said. "They managed their games and the golf course just like we had discussed. The boys stuck to the game plan and executed great. I'm so happy for Andrew and Ryan, who came through in a big way for us today."
Juniors Austin Smotherman and Bryson Dechambeau provided the other two counting scores for the Mustangs, carding 1-over 73's each. DeChambeau is tied for fourth individually at 2-under overall, while Smotherman is tied for seventh at 1-under. Freshman Ben Baxter, SMU's low-scorer on Thursday, shot a 2-over 74 but remained in the top five individually, and enters the final day tied with DeChambeau for fourth at 2-under.
SMU was in third place over most of the front nine, trailing Colorado and No. 4 Illinois. A succession of four birdies by DeChambeau, Buchanan and Baxter over holes 9-10 gave the Mustangs their first lead, one that they would not relinquish the rest of the round.
"Today was a total team effort," Enloe added. "We are going to practice a bit, get a good dinner and rest. We are in great shape, but the guys know that they need to go into tomorrow with the intention to play well and take care of their business."
The Mustangs not only lead the 14-team tournament by four strokes, but are also 17 shots ahead of the cut line for the NCAA Championship finals. The top five teams in the field after tomorrow's final round will advance to the finals, taking place in Bradenton, Florida, May 29-June 3. SMU (-3, 573), Colorado (+1, 577), Illinois (+3, 579), No. 15 UCLA (+6, 582) and UNLV (+9, 585) hold those positions entering Saturday. No. 8 Oregon (+14, 590) is the first team below the cut line.
UCLA's Jonathan Garrick leads the individual race at 7-under, with Colorado's David Oraee one shot back in second. Brian Campbell of Illinois is third at 3-under, while DeChambeau, Baxter and Xavier's Jose Montano are tied for fourth.
SMU has never won an NCAA Regional competition. Last season, the Mustangs placed fourth at the NCAA San Antonio Regionals, advancing to the NCAA Championship finals in Hutchinson, Kansas. The Mustangs tied for seventh in stroke play at the finals, advancing to the match play quarterfinals, falling to eventual national champion Alabama, 3-2.
The Mustangs will tee off on the front nine for Saturday's final round at 8:15 a.m. ET/7:15 a.m. CT, grouped with the Buffaloes and Fighting Illini.
