March 27, 2010
Results, live scoring and tee times
Greensboro, Ga. – Paul Haley fired a 1-over-par 73 Saturday to pace Georgia Tech, and the 15th-ranked Yellow Jackets posted a 10-over-par 298 in the second round and stand fifth after 36 holes at the Linger Longer Invitational in Greensboro, Ga.
Kyle Scott carded a 74 and Chesson Hadley a 75, while James White and John-Tyler Griffin each shot 76 Saturday for the Jackets, who are 17 shots behind leader Oklahoma State entering Sunday’s final round. On a day when conditions were nearly perfect, scores were only marginally better than they were in the stiff breezes that buffeted the 7,051, par 72 Landing Golf Course on Friday.
The No. 2-ranked Cowboys (3-over-579) made it around the course in even-par 288 Saturday and hold a three-shot lead over No. 24 Alabama (8-over 584). Eighth-ranked Texas A&M made up considerable ground with a 3-under 285 Saturday and are in third place at +14. Furman (+16) is in fourth place, followed by Tech (+22) and No. 20 Georgia (+23).
Rounding out the top 10 in the 16-team field are No. 11 Florida (+25), Louisville (+30), Kennesaw State (+30) and Charlotte (+33).
Haley, a junior from Dallas, Texas, birdied two of the last three holes to finish strong, while Scott, a junior from Johannesburg, South Africa, stemmed a string of three bogeys in four holes by playing the final three holes in 1-under.
But the rest of the Jackets struggled coming home.
“We’re not putting together 18 holes,” said head coach Bruce Heppler. “We’ve got to learn to finish if we hope to contend.”
White, a sophomore from Acworth, Ga., who led Tech with a 73 Friday, started out strong Saturday, playing the front nine in 2-under-par, but faltered on the back (6-over). Griffin, a junior from Wilson, N.C., who is Tech’s scoring leader for the year, birdied his first two holes but played the rest in 6-over.
White remained in the top 20 individually, tied for 16th place at 5-over 149. He is 12 shots behind Alabama’s Bud Cauley, who followed his 64 Friday with a 73 Saturday and stands at 7-under 137, three shots ahead of Oklahoma State’s Sean Einhaus (4-under 140). Conrad Shindler of Texas A&M and Kevin Tway of Oklahoma State, tied at 1-under 143, are the only other players under par for 36 holes.
Scott and Hadley are tied for 20th place at 6-over 150, while Griffin is tied for 35th at 152.
Play begins at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Live scoring and tee times for the event can be followed at www.golfstat.com.
