Fernandez Leads Wildcats at Tiger Invitational
Mar 05, 2018 | Men's Golf
Sophomore Ben Fernandez carded an even-par 72 on Monday as he led the K-State men's golf team during the second round of the Tiger Invitational at Grand National Lakes Course.
As a team, the Wildcats are in 13th place at 16-over par 592. K-State shaved six strokes off its first-round score by carding a 5-over par 293 in the second round.
"The biggest issue for us so far is putting," head coach Grant Robbins said. "Our ball striking has been as good as it has been all year, but we are struggling to make putts. We have to stay patient and putt with confidence.
"The forecast is calling for rain tomorrow, so it will be a great opportunity for us to move up with a solid round."
A reverse from yesterday, the Wildcats had a slow start on the front nine with 13 bogeys or worse but rebounded on the back nine by collecting eight birdies.
Fernandez is in a tie for 27th place at 2-over par 146. He carded four birdies on Monday to improve four spots on the leaderboard.
Juniors Jeremy Gandon and Roland Massimino are tied for 49th place at 5-over par 149 going into the final round of play as they each shot a 2-over par 74 on Monday.
JC Campbell shaved five strokes off his first-round score to climb 11 spots to 61st at 7-over par 151. Jacob Eklund is one shot behind Campbell at 8-over par 152 to tie for 62nd place.
Trent Evans, who is competing as an individual, is tied for 83rd at 13-over par 157.
Auburn remains the front-runner with a strong lead at 12-under par 564. Maryland's David Kocher took over the individual lead at 8-under par 136 following the second round.
The Auburn Invitational will conclude on Tuesday with the final round as K-State is slated to tee off at 9:30 a.m. Live scoring can be found at www.golfstat.com.
Tiger Invitational
Grand National Lakes Course
Opelika, Ala.
Par 72 / 7,149 Yards
Team Scores: 1. Auburn, 281-283—564 (-12); T2. Maryland, 292-286—578 (+2); T2. Mississippi State, 289-289—578 (+2); 4. Kennesaw State, 284-298—582 (+6); T5. Georgia State, 296-287—583 (+7); T5. Southern Mississippi, 296-287—583 (+7); 7. Minnesota, 296-288—584 (+8); 8. Missouri, 297-288—585 (+9); 9. Charlotte, 292-294—586 (+10); 10. UNCG, 293-296—589 (+13); 11. Troy, 302-288--590 (+14); 12. Chattanooga, 302-289—591 (+15); 13. Kansas State, 299-293—592 (+16); 14. James Madison, 299-294—593 (+17); 15. UNCW, 301-295—596 (+20); 16. South Alabama, 303-299—602 (+26); 17. Samford, 313-308—621 (+45).
Top Individuals: 1. David Kocher, Maryland, 67-69—136 (-8); 2. Wells Padgett, Auburn, 68-70—138 (-6). T3. Jovan Rebula, Auburn, 68-71—139 (-5); T3. Taylor Grant, Mississippi State,71-68—139 (-5); T5. Conor Purcell, Charlotte, 68-72—140 (-4); Ben Schlottman, Auburn, 69-71—140 (-4); T5. Ryan Knop, Auburn, 70-70—140 (-4).
K-State Individuals: T27. Ben Fernandez, 74-72—146 (+2); T49. Jeremy Gandon, 75-74—149 (+5); T49. Roland Massimino, 75-74—149 (+5); 61. JC Campbell, 78-73—151 (+7); T62. Jacob Eklund, 75-77—152 (+3); T83. Trent Evans, 79-78—157 (+13).
As a team, the Wildcats are in 13th place at 16-over par 592. K-State shaved six strokes off its first-round score by carding a 5-over par 293 in the second round.
"The biggest issue for us so far is putting," head coach Grant Robbins said. "Our ball striking has been as good as it has been all year, but we are struggling to make putts. We have to stay patient and putt with confidence.
"The forecast is calling for rain tomorrow, so it will be a great opportunity for us to move up with a solid round."
A reverse from yesterday, the Wildcats had a slow start on the front nine with 13 bogeys or worse but rebounded on the back nine by collecting eight birdies.
Fernandez is in a tie for 27th place at 2-over par 146. He carded four birdies on Monday to improve four spots on the leaderboard.
Juniors Jeremy Gandon and Roland Massimino are tied for 49th place at 5-over par 149 going into the final round of play as they each shot a 2-over par 74 on Monday.
JC Campbell shaved five strokes off his first-round score to climb 11 spots to 61st at 7-over par 151. Jacob Eklund is one shot behind Campbell at 8-over par 152 to tie for 62nd place.
Trent Evans, who is competing as an individual, is tied for 83rd at 13-over par 157.
Auburn remains the front-runner with a strong lead at 12-under par 564. Maryland's David Kocher took over the individual lead at 8-under par 136 following the second round.
The Auburn Invitational will conclude on Tuesday with the final round as K-State is slated to tee off at 9:30 a.m. Live scoring can be found at www.golfstat.com.
Tiger Invitational
Grand National Lakes Course
Opelika, Ala.
Par 72 / 7,149 Yards
Team Scores: 1. Auburn, 281-283—564 (-12); T2. Maryland, 292-286—578 (+2); T2. Mississippi State, 289-289—578 (+2); 4. Kennesaw State, 284-298—582 (+6); T5. Georgia State, 296-287—583 (+7); T5. Southern Mississippi, 296-287—583 (+7); 7. Minnesota, 296-288—584 (+8); 8. Missouri, 297-288—585 (+9); 9. Charlotte, 292-294—586 (+10); 10. UNCG, 293-296—589 (+13); 11. Troy, 302-288--590 (+14); 12. Chattanooga, 302-289—591 (+15); 13. Kansas State, 299-293—592 (+16); 14. James Madison, 299-294—593 (+17); 15. UNCW, 301-295—596 (+20); 16. South Alabama, 303-299—602 (+26); 17. Samford, 313-308—621 (+45).
Top Individuals: 1. David Kocher, Maryland, 67-69—136 (-8); 2. Wells Padgett, Auburn, 68-70—138 (-6). T3. Jovan Rebula, Auburn, 68-71—139 (-5); T3. Taylor Grant, Mississippi State,71-68—139 (-5); T5. Conor Purcell, Charlotte, 68-72—140 (-4); Ben Schlottman, Auburn, 69-71—140 (-4); T5. Ryan Knop, Auburn, 70-70—140 (-4).
K-State Individuals: T27. Ben Fernandez, 74-72—146 (+2); T49. Jeremy Gandon, 75-74—149 (+5); T49. Roland Massimino, 75-74—149 (+5); 61. JC Campbell, 78-73—151 (+7); T62. Jacob Eklund, 75-77—152 (+3); T83. Trent Evans, 79-78—157 (+13).
Players Mentioned
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