MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. - Middle Tennessee did its part by turning in a solid score in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference men's golf championships here Tuesday but the Blue Raiders' 4-under 284 was not enough to narrow the gap against a Denver team that shot 8-under on day two on the Fighting Joe Course at the Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals.

The Blue Raiders came into the day 13 shots behind first-round leader and defending champion Louisiana-Lafayette and needed a strong showing to have a chance to make a run in Wednesday's final round. Led by junior Rick Cochran's sterling 4-under 68 the Blue Raiders posted the third-best round of the day but it wasn't enough to gain ground against the Pioneers, who are 12-under for the tournament and own a five-shot lead over the Ragin' Cajuns entering final round action.

South Alabama (572) is third, followed by New Orleans (574) and North Texas (576), respectively, while Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky are tied for sixth at 577.

"It doesn't surprise me that our team made such a run today because they have been battling since we made the turn (Monday)," Blue Raider Head Coach Whit Turnbow said. "They knew they had to come out and shoot under par and we did that but you have to tip your cap to Denver. They put up a really low score and distanced themselves from the field."

Cochran led Middle Tennessee with the tournament's fifth-lowest score in the first two rounds, firing a 4-under 68. The junior from Paducah, Ky., is 3-under 141 for the tournament and tied for fifth, five shots behind South Alabama's Johnny Caldwell.

Cochran collected six birdies and narrowly missed a handful more on a strong day for him.

"It was actually the easiest 68 you can get," Cochran said. "I hit a bunch of greens and made some putts but I missed a handful of putts, barely, and I missed a couple short ones late or I could have finished with four straight birdies."

He had to settle with closing his round with consecutive birdies on 17 and 18 but Cochran and the rest of the Blue Raiders realized their opportunity for a fifth straight tournament win and their first Sun Belt Men's Golf Championship may have eluded them. "We took a great step forward today but Denver had a great day," Cochran said. "We knew we left a lot of shots out there (Monday) and could come back. Today was more like it but it may not be enough. We just have to come back tomorrow and give it another solid effort and see what happens."

Sophomore Kent Bulle was 1-under Tuesday and is 3-over for the tournament, tied for 31st. Senior Nick Bailes, who replaced injured Craig Smith in the Blue Raider lineup, bounced back from a tough opening day to play even par Tuesday and Turnbow said that provided a lift for his team.

"Nick is in a tough spot and he played well today," Turnbow said. "To shoot 72 was a good score and being the first guy in with that 72 really freed up some stuff for others as we came down the stretch. I couldn't be more proud of Nick and this is a good way for him to go out.

"(Cochran) has played well all spring and he made some putts today to put himself in contention for the individual championship so that was good."

Chas Narramore is tied for 16th after shooting 1-over 73 Tuesday. He has shot even par, 144, through the first two rounds. Freshman Jason Millard is tied for 36th with a 4-over 148 entering Wednesday's final round.

Sun Belt Conference Championships
Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals
Fighting Joe Course, Par 72 
Second Round Team Scores
1 Denver 284-280 564 -12
2 Louisiana-Lafayette 280-289 569 -7
3 South Alabama 290-282 572 -4
4 New Orleans 289-285 574 -2
5 North Texas 288-288 576 E
T6 Middle Tennessee 293-284 577 +1
T6 Western Kentucky 291-286 577 +1
8 Troy 294-286 580 +4
9 UALR 296-288 584 +8
10 Louisiana-Monroe 299-286 585 +9
11 Arkansas State 297-299 596 +20
12 Florida Atlantic 304-309 613 +37

T6 Middle Tennessee (577)
T5 Rick Cochran 73-68 141 -3
T16 Chas Narramore 71-73 144 E
T31 Kent Bulle 76-71 147 +3
T36 Jason Millard 73-75 148 +4
T50 Nick Bailes 81-72 153 +9

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