ROCKWALL, Texas – Midwestern State finished 36 holes of the Lone Star Conference Championship on Monday at 26-over 602, and the Mustangs are in fifth place — trailing fourth-place UT Permian Basin by two strokes. The top four teams after the final round of stroke play on Tuesday earn a berth in the medal match round at Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club.
Senior Seth Bearden is second on the individual leaderboard at 1-over 145, three strokes behind David Vega Gerstel of West Texas A&M. Jacob Holloway of UT Tyler, Isaac Molloy of Cameron and Will Tate of UT Permian Basin are tied for third at 2-over 146.
Cameron and West Texas A&M are tied for the lead at 18-over 594, leading third-place UT Tyler by three strokes.
Three teams are behind Midwestern State on the leaderboard but within six strokes of the Mustangs entering the final 18 holes of stroke play. St. Mary's is in sixth place at 29-over 605 with UT Dallas one stroke further back, and Dallas Baptist in eighth place at 32-over 608.
Bearden shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 in the second round to surge up the leaderboard after shooting 6-over 78 in the opening round at the 7,320-yard course along the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard.
Nathan Nelson had nine straight pars during his second round and had three birdies over his final four holes during the afternoon session en route to a 2-under 70. The sophomore from Gunter, Texas, started the day with a 6-over 78 and is in a tie for eighth place at 4-over.
Chase Kisver, a junior from Flower Mound, is also 4-over for the Mustangs but the substitute only played the second round on Monday.
Anniston McIlwain eagled the 600-yard, par-5 sixth hole in the second round on his way to even-par 72 after shooting 7-over 79 in the first round. McIlwain sits in 17th place entering the final round of stroke play.
Ryan Griff birdied three of his final five holes on Monday and finished the first 36 holes with six birdies. The sophomore from Bulverde, Texas, shot 5-over 77 in the second round after carding a 12-over 84 in the first round. Griff is in 51st place.
The final round of stroke play is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
