Facing off against several of the better team from the Gulf South Conference, the Lee men's golf team will be battling one of the teams from outside the GSC when it tees off in the final round of the 54-hole University Golf Classic, hosted by the University of North Alabama, on Tuesday morning.
The event is being played on the 7,126 yards RTJ Fighting Joe course and the first 36 holes were played under near-perfect golfing conditions on Monday. Missouri-St. Louis put together rounds of 294-284 - 578 and holds a 7-stroke lead over the second place Flames (297-288 – 585) heading into Tuesday's play.
Host North Alabama (B) is in third place (305-291 – 596) and the regular North Alabama squad is trailing the B club after it posted a 299-298 - 597.
It appears that only five teams will be fighting for top honors. Delta State (308-297 - 605) rounds out the best five. The next team, University of Tampa (323-305 - 628) is well out of the hunt in the field of eight squads and 43 individual golfers.
The Flames were paced by Taylor Davis and Shea Sylvester. Each fired identical rounds of 73-70 - 143 on the par 72 links. They are tied for fourth in the medalist competition, but only 2-strokes off the pace. Shea and Taylor were particularly solid today,” noted coach John Maupin. “They were a good 1-2 punch for us.”
Corey Sheppard was consistent with rounds of 74-74 - 148. Peyton Sliger got off to a slow start with a 77, but rebounded with a 74 to close out at 151. Adam Wright registered a pair of 77s for a 154.
“I saw good things from all our guys,” Maupin pointed out. “We just need to still clean up a few things. There are several teams here that compete at (the D2) Nationals year in and year out. We have put ourselves in good position. Our plan is to go out and play with great purpose tomorrow.”
Missouri- St. Louis' Matt Barry (70-71) and North Alabama B's Patrick Twesme (73-68) are tied for medalist honors with their 141s. Michael Peter (North Alabama) is 1-stroke ahead of Davis and Sylvester after he carded a 142.