Men’s Golf holds six-shot advantage at Hootie at Bulls Bay

AWENDAW, S.C. (March 27, 2023) – Being in the final pairing provided some disadvantages for the ETSU men’s golf team on Monday.

Despite battling high wind and some rain over the final six holes, the Buccaneers were still able to extend their lead at the Hootie at Bulls Bay. The Blue & Gold shot a 9-under 279 and moved their lead to six strokes, as ETSU sits at 28-under-par 548 following second-round play from Bulls Bay Golf Club in Awendaw, S.C.

The Bucs played the first four holes on the back nine at eight-under, but with weather rolling in, ETSU played its last five holes at three-over, forcing the Blue & Gold to come back to the field.

ETSU, looking to repeat as champions and secure its second straight team win, holds the lead over Purdue as the 40th ranked Boilermakers posted an 8-under 280 on Monday and are at 22-under-par 554 for the tournament. New Mexico is seven shots off the lead in third, while NC State (-20) and No. 47 Missouri (-19) round out the top five teams atop the leaderboard.

The Bucs continue to lead the 15-team field in birdies (47), while pacing the teams in par-3 (-1) and par-4 scoring (-10).

The Blue & Gold were led by reigning individual champion Archie Davies (Carlisle, England) in round two. Davies posted a 4-under 68 and is tied for fourth at 9-under-par 135. Davies nearly registered his second straight bogey-free round as he carded five birdies and 10 pars over his first 15 holes on Monday. Unfortunately, the inclement weather resulted in Davies posting his first bogey of the tournament on the par-4, 438-yard No. 16, before finishing with back-to-back pars to hang the 68.

Mats Ege (Kristiansand, Norway) and Algot Kleen (Fiskebackskil, Sweden) still remain in the top 10 as they are tied for ninth at 7-under-par 137. Ege, who continues to pace the Bucs with 12 birdies for the tournament, tallied five more on Monday to go along with 10 pars and three bogeys. Meanwhile, Kleen overcame a bumpy start to finish with a 1-under 71 in round two. Kleen, one of five golfers tied for the lead to start the day, opened with back-to-back bogeys before playing his final 16 holes at three-under.

Kentucky’s Alex Goff – one of the five players tied for the lead following Sunday’s opening round – remained atop the leaderboard following a 7-under 65 on Monday. Goff will take a three-shot lead into Tuesday’s finale as he is at 13-under-par 131 through 36 holes. Purdue’s Herman Wibe Sekne, ranked No. 31 via Golfstat, also fired a 7-under in the second round to move into a tie for second with Furman’s Will Morlan.

Remi Chartier (Montreal, Canada) and Matty Dodd-Berry (Wirral, England) were also under par for the Buccaneers on Monday. Chartier finished the day at 1-under 71 to finish tied for 24th at 4-under-par 140, while Dodd-Berry is tied for 30th at 3-under-par 141. Dodd-Berry carded a 2-under 70 on Monday.

ETSU will be grouped with Purdue and New Mexico in Tuesday’s final round. The Bucs go out at 9:21 a.m. from the first tee box.

Fans can follow live scoring via Golfstat.com. In addition, live tweets will be available by following the Bucs on Twitter @ETSU_MGolf.

For more information on Buccaneer men’s golf, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men’s golf page.