Alabama Maintains 2nd Place Standing After Two Rounds at NCAA Baton Rouge Regional

The second-ranked Alabama men’s golf team fired the lowest score in the 13-team field during the second round of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional on Friday at the par-72, 7,436-yard University Club with a 2-over-par 290.

The Crimson Tide assumed control of second place on the leaderboard at 10-over-par 586, eight strokes behind leader Florida who shot 4-over 292 on Friday. South Alabama slipped to third with a 9-over 297 that leaves them seven shots back of the Tide at 17-over 593. Houston is fourth at 20-over 596 with host LSU and Coastal Carolina tied for fifth at 21-over 597.

The top five teams at the end Saturday’s third and final round will advance to the NCAA Championships on May 28-June 2 on the Crabapple Course at the Capital City Club in Woodstock, Ga.

“I thought everyone played really well,” Alabama head coach Jay Seawell said. “It was nice to have everyone around par most of the day, and they battled hard. We are starting to get a better understanding of the golf course; the knowledge is starting to come.

“I was proud of how we played today, especially Trey with a nice bounce back round. That was huge for him and for us.”

All five Alabama scores ranged between even-par 72 and 3-over 75 in round two. Sophomore Justin Thomas and junior Trey Mullinax carded even-par rounds while junior Bobby Wyatt and senior Scott Strohmeyer shot 1-over 73.

Mullinax, a junior from Birmingham, Ala., played the first 10 holes in 3-over par but an eagle on the par-5 11^th hole turned his fortunes around. He followed with six straight pars and birdie on the par-4 closing hole for a round of 72. After struggling with an 82 in the opening round, Mullinax’s even-par round moved him into a tie for 39^th at 10-over 154.

Stohmeyer, who was tied for the lead entering the round, finished the day tied for third at 1-under-par 143. He is two shots back of Florida’s TJ Vogel and one stroke back of the Gator’s Tyler McCumber. Strohmeyer’s scorecard was busy again in round two, making five birdies, six bogeys seven pars.

Thomas, a sophomore from Goshen, Ky., got off to a fast starter with three birdies on his first six holes before reeling off eight consecutive pars. He carded back-to-back bogeys on the 16^th and 17^th holes and finished his round on the first hole with a bogey. His even-par round leaves him 1-over 145 and tied for fifth.

Wyatt is tied for 14^th individually with a 4-over-par 148 after 36 holes on the University Club layout. Cory Whitsett’s 3-over 75 was dropped from the team total in round two.

Alabama will tee off at 8:40 a.m. on Saturday in the final round of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional. The Crimson Tide will be paired with Florida and South Alabama once again in the final round.