SAN ANTONIO – Nathan Nelson, Ryan Griff and Seth Bearden are among the top four players on the leaderboard after 36 holes, and No. 32-ranked Midwestern State was the dominant team in the 16-team field at the Rattler Invitational on Monday. The Mustangs are in first place with a 12-stroke lead over No. 6-ranked St. Mary's entering the final round on Tuesday.

Midwestern State is the only team in the field under par through 36 holes at Dominion Country Club. The team finished the first day of the tournament at 8-under par 568.

Nelson is tied with No. 39-ranked Ioan Rowe of UT Permian Basin for first place on the player leaderboard at 4-under 140, leading Griff by one stroke. No. 25-ranked Bearden is just two strokes back and tied for fourth place with Preston Chabaud of UT Tyler.

Nelson started the day 3-under through his first eight holes and would card his only bogey of the first round at the 423-yard, par-4 14th hole. He would add two more birdies to his scorecard before finishing the first round at 4-under 68.

Nelson had three bogies over a five-hole stretch of the second round but had three more birdies and shot even-par 72 in the second round.

Griff eagled the 499-yard, par-5 ninth hole twice on Monday and had eight birdies over 36 holes on his way to a 3-under 141 through the first two rounds.

Bearden had four birdies over his first nine holes on Monday morning on his way to a 3-under 69. Bearden opened his second round with two bogeys and had a double-bogey on the 434-yard, par-4 10th hole. The senior from Crowell, Texas, also carded four birdies, including one on his 36th hole of the day, to close out a 1-over 73.

Anniston McIlwain is in 36th place after shooting an even-par 72 in the second round. McIlwain had five birdies and overcame a triple bogey on the 423-yard, par-4 14th hole.  The sophomore from Bulverde, Texas shot 6-over 78 in the first round, which included three birdies. McIlwain begins the final round at 6-over on Tuesday.

Hank Germany was 1-under par through his first 15 holes on Monday and finished the first round at 1-over 73. The junior from Midlothian, Texas, started his second round with five consecutive pars but finished 6-over 78 with one birdie during the afternoon session. Germany is in 41st place at 7-over 151.
No. 11-ranked Dallas Baptist enters the final round on Tuesday 15 strokes behind Midwestern State in third place at 7-over par, followed by No. 17-ranked UT Permian Basin at 10-over 586.

The 87-player field begins the final round on Tuesday morning at Dominion Country Club.