ORLANDO, Fla. - After 36 holes of the Rio Pinar Invitational, Middle Tennessee is in sixth place with a 596 total on the 7,001-yard, par 72 course.
Host UCF is the overall leader with a 569, 7-under par total which is 15 shots better than second place Charlotte and North Texas. North Florida is fourth with a 590 and Liberty rounds out the top five with a 594.
The 32nd ranked Blue Raiders were in second place, just 10 shots back of UCF after round one despite playing with just four golfers. Sophomore Hunter Green got food poisoning Sunday night and had to withdraw from the tournament.
"We had a valiant effort all day playing four on five," said Head Coach Whit Turnbow. "But I don't care what adversity we face, this team is still too good to shoot anything over 300. Tuesday is a big day as we will see what we are made of over the final 18 holes."
The team struggled in the second round with a lack of depth to shoot a disappointing 307 and slip to sixth place.
Junior Jason Millard is leading the way for the Blue Raiders with a 147 total which is good enough to tie for 16th. Millard opened with an even par 72 before carding a 75 in the second round.
Senior Craig Smith and sophomore Brad Simons are tied for 24th as both own a 36-hole total of 149. Smith shot a 72 over the first 18 but struggled during the second round for a 77. Simons, fresh off his best career finish, fired a 2-under par 70 to begin the tournament. However, Simons had a complete turnaround in the afternoon with a 79.
Senior Kent Bulle is tied for 40th after shooting a 141 (75-76).
The Blue Raiders will play the final round on Tuesday beginning with a shotgun start at 7:30 AM CST.
TEAM SCORES
1 UCF 279 290 569 -7
2 Charlotte 291 293 584 +8
North Texas, U. of 291 293 584 +8
4 North Florida, U. of 293 297 590 +14
5 Liberty University 295 299 594 +18
6 Middle Tennessee 289 307 596 +20
7 Toledo, U. of 296 301 597 +21
8 Miami (Ohio) 304 296 600 +24
Wichita State Univ. 298 302 600 +24
10 Akron, U. of 299 303 602 +26
Louisiana-Lafayette 294 308 602 +26
Southern Mississippi 293 309 602 +26
South Alabama, U. of 302 300 602 +26
14 So. Florida, U. of 306 302 608 +32
15 Charleston, Coll. of 305 304 609 +33
UT-Arlington 293 316 609 +33
17 Florida Atlantic U. 303 307 610 +34
18 Marquette University 308 315 623 +47
MT SCORES
T 16 Jason Millard 72 75 147
T 24 Craig Smith 72 77 149
T 24 Brad Simons 70 79 149
T 40 Kent Bulle 75 76 151
WD Hunter Green WD WD
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