Alabama
Blessings Collegiate Invitational
Alabama Vaults into Overall Lead After 36 Holes of the Blessings Collegiate Invitational
10/6/2020 8:01:00 PM | Men's Golf
Four UA golfers finish under par on Tuesday on the way to a second-round score of 6-under 282
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Four Alabama men's golfers finished under par on Tuesday to help the Crimson Tide vault into the overall lead after 36 holes of the Blessings Collegiate Invitational. UA ended the day with a 6-under par 282 to take a two-stroke clubhouse lead heading into the Wednesday's final round at 3-under par 573 (291-282).
"We made some putts today and anytime you putt well you tend to play well," head coach Jay Seawell said. "I was really proud of our guys. This is a tough course. It almost feels like a U.S. Open because you have to be resilient and we did a good job of doing just that today."
After making the turn at one-over par as a team, the Crimson Tide caught fire and combined to shoot 7-under par on the back nine. The team's four counting scores combined for 12 birdies compared to just five bogeys on the way to the low team round of the day.
Alabama owns a two-shot lead over Tennessee (575) and is five strokes better than Kentucky (577). Texas A&M (584) is in fourth while South Carolina (586) and Vanderbilt (586) round out the top five.
The event, which features simultaneous play from all 14 Southeastern Conference men's and women's teams, is being played on the par 72, 7,503-yard Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Ark.
ROUND TWO INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS
- Sophomore Tyler Lipscomb led the way on Tuesday by carding a career-best 18-hole score of 3-under par 69. Lipscomb's round included four birdies compared to just one bogey and he is in a tie for 15th overall with an even par 144 (75-69).
- Sophomore Thomas Ponder and senior Wilson Furr are among the top-10 individuals heading into the final round of play.
- After going for a team-low 70 on Monday, Ponder followed that with a 1-under 71 and is in a tie for fourth overall after 36 holes with a 3-under par 141.
- Furr also recorded his second consecutive under-par round to end the day in a tie for ninth with a 142 (71-71).
- Senior Davis Shore, who chipped in from the bunker on No. 18, collected four birdies without a bogey on the back nine to result in a 1-under 71 on the day. He will enter Wednesday's final round in a tie for 20th overall at 2-over 146 (75-71).
- Freshman JP Cave rounds out the Crimson Tide with a 166 (82-84).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
- Alabama was in a first-place tie when they teed off on Hole No. 18, which is when the excitement began. In a span of five minutes – on three consecutive shots – the Tide secured a two-stroke lead.
- Shore began the charge with his bunker shot for birdie, which was then immediately followed by Ponder sinking a 30-foot birdie putt. Just seconds later, it was Lipscomb who calmly drained a 15-footer to save par and give UA a two-shot clubhouse lead.
FUN FACT
- Alabama is the only squad in the 14-team field to boast four players among the top-25 individuals.
NEXT ROUND
- Alabama will tee off the third and final round at 10:47 a.m. CT off Hole No. 1. Live television coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. CT on the GOLF Channel, while live stats throughout the event can be found at Golfstat.com.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaMGolf, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
