The legendary Yogi Berra summed it, “it was déjà vu all over again” for Wes Gosselin Tuesday. He matched his opening card with another 1-over par 73. He is tied for 20th at +2 with 18 holes remaining at the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regionals.
He got the start he was looking for with a birdie on the par 5 10th, his first hole of the day at Ol’ Colony Golf Complex.
“Couldn't ask for a better start,” the Chattanooga Mocs junior stated. “I hit a great 5 iron on the green in two and made birdie. Hit it in close on 11 as well, but didn't get that one to fall. That seemed to be the story of the day. I hit the ball well, lots of really good shots.
“It gave me a lot of good looks with the putter, I just couldn't get them to fall.”
Back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15 flipped his score back to -1 after a double on 12. Bogeys at 17 and 18 put him at +1 at the turn.
“Bad break on 17, bad drive on 18, I was a bit frustrated making the turn,” he added. “Hit a good drive on one and made par then played two perfectly for birdie. That got the ship righted.”
He notched a birdie on seven, his third of the day on par 5s and fifth overall. It was sandwiched by bogeys at five and eight to complete his 73.
“There were a lot of positives out there today, and I feel good for tomorrow,” he said in closing. “Everything is working, I just need some putts to go in.”
Kentucky’s Tyler McDaniel’s 67 (-5) sent him into a tie for first with early leaders Greyson Sigg (Georgia) and Zach Healy (Georgia) at -5. Matthew NeSmith (South Carolina) is alone in fourth at -4.
The final 18 opens on No. 10 again for Gosselin on Wednesday. He starts at 10:42 a.m., Eastern time, playing with Austin James (Charleston Southern) and Franck Medale (Jacksonville). Click the “Live Scoring” link above for leaderboards and pairings. Follow @GoMocsMGLF on Twitter for updates.