PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - Sophomore Raine Copeland used a steady hand to string a pair of even-par rounds to lead Midwestern State in the opening two rounds of the NSU Shark Invitational Monday afternoon at the Par-72, 7,048-yard PGA National Championship Course.
 
The Carrollton Hebron High product carded consecutive rounds of 72 for a two-round total of 144 and is tied for 12th place five strokes off of the pace of individual leaders Daniel Claytor of Barton (N.C.) and Jose Joia of Lynn (Fla.) who notched 5-under totals of 139.

"Raine was really solid and played the Par-5s really smartly," MSU coach Jeff Ray said. "There are some temptations on the Par-5s, but he never really put himself in difficult spots and was smart in the way he chose to lay up."
 
Copeland's consistent rounds guided the Mustangs to a ninth-place standing with a two-round team total of 597 (+21). MSU trails tournament leading Lynn University by 33 strokes as the Fighting Knights carded rounds of 282 and 292 for a total of 574 (-2).

"The courses are very challenging and the field is very deep," Ray said. "This gives our kids an idea of the kind of program we want to be. This is a PGA type of course and is a great experience for our kids that can help us down the road in regional and national tournaments."
 
Senior Travis Klutts sits 18th after shooting rounds of 72 and 74 for a total of 146 (+2) and junior Brett Perry, who is tied for 47th, carded scores of 78 and 77 for a total of 155 (+11).
 
Freshman Jeremy LeGuen opened strong with a 74 before struggling through a second round score of 82 for a total of 156 (+12). He is tied for 53rd with teammate Chad Bryant, who fired two rounds of 78.
 
The 54-hole tournament concludes with a third and final round Tuesday morning.
  

NSU Shark Invitational
PGA National Championship Course
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Par-72, 7,048 yards
Team Leaderboard
Place									Team	Round Scores	Total	To Par
1									Lynn (Fla.)	282-292	574	-2
2									Barton (N.C.)	292-285	577	+1
3									West Florida	292-289	581	+5
4									Nova Southeastern (Fla.)	293-290	583	+7
5									Rollins (Fla.)	284-303	587	+11
6									Barry (Fla.)	292-297	589	+13
7									Queens (N.C.)	295-296	591	+15
8									Post (N.Y.)	302-292	594	+18
9									Midwestern State (Texas)	296-301	597	+21
									Indianapolis (Ind.)	286-311	597	+21
11									Florida Southern	296-306	602	+26
12									Florida Tech	307-305	612	+36
13									Northwood (Fla.)	304-309	613	+37
14									Belmont Abbey (N.C.)	308-306	614	+38
15									St. Andrews Presbyterian (Fla.)	315-307	622	+46
Individual Leaderboard
Place									Player, Team	Round Scores	Total	To Par
1									Daniel Claytor, Barton	71-68	139	-5
									Jose Joia, Lynn	67-72	139	-5
3									Aaron Monson, Indianapolis	67-73	140	-4
									Ricardo Gouveia, Lynn	67-73	140	-4
									Michael Marshburn, Barton	75-65	140	-4
6									Daniel Stapff, Barry	71-70	141	-3
7									Bobby Bode, Nova Southeastern	74-68	142	-2
									Spencer Cole, Rollins	69-73	142	-2
									Carlos Rodriguez, West Florida	75-67	142	-2
									Ben Vertz, Nova Southeastern	74-68	142	-2
									Adam Hedges, Belmont Abbey	72-70	142	-2
Midwestern State Scorecard
9t									Midwestern State	296	296	+8
12t									Raine Copeland	72-72	144	E
18t									Travis Klutts	72-74	146	+2
47t									Brett Perry	78-77	155	+11
53t									Jeremy LeGuen	74-82	156	+12
54t									Chad Bryant	78-78	156	+12