Big second round lifts BU on Day One of The Battle
BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. -- Bellevue knocked 16 strokes off their first round score to climb from a tie for 19th all the way to a tie for 11th place through the first two rounds of The Battle at Laughlin Ranch.
The tournament is being played at the 7,055-yard, par 72 Laughlin Ranch Golf Club and hosted by Wayland Baptist University.
Thomas Gatlin fired a 3-under second round as he finds himself second overall at 2-under (142) in the 100-golfer field. His 3-under round was ties for the second best individual round of the day. Gatlin birdied six holes on the day, including four in the second round alone, and made an eagle on the 314-yard, par four No. 16.
Dylan Rodgers posted a 6-over first round 78 and backed it up with a 2-under second round. He made five birdies on the day, including four in his second round, more than offsetting a pair of bogeys. He is tied in 17th place overall at 4-over (148).
Kyle Dale tallied a team-high five birdies in the second round as he shot a pair of 7-over 79s. He is in a tie for 74th place overall at 14-over (158).
Randy Christiansen shot 18-over (162) for the day, but improved from an 11-over 83 in the first round to shoot a 7-over 79 in the second. He made a birdie in each round and finds himself in a tie for 86th place through two rounds of play.
Martin Hempston is 24-over (168) after two rounds of play, tied for 94th overall. His day was highlighted by a trio of birdies, including going back-to-back on No. 1 and No. 2 in the second round.
Keiser University holds the team lead at 11-over, a single shot ahead of second place Ottawa University (+12). Hastings College and Texas Wesleyan University are tied at 13-over (589) for third place with Arizona Christian University 15-over in fifth.
Bellevue is tied with Friends University for 11th place overall in the 20-team field at 34-over (610). Bellevue posted a 25-over (313) first round before securing a 9-over (297) second which was good for the sixth-best team score in the round.
* Note – play was halted due to darkness while a dozen teams still had more to play.
Texas Wesleyan's Kolby Fielder is the individual leader at 5-under (139) through 36 holes. He is three shots ahead of the trio of BU's Gatlin, Hastings' Max Nielsen, and Kesier's Yann Ferrando – all over whom are 2-under (142).
Third round play concludes the tournament with golfers set to tee off at 9 a.m. shotgun start.