University of North Florida
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UCF charges hard, Ospreys 8th
2/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Feb. 19, 2007
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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - Alabama expanded its lead on day two of the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational, while a hard-charging UCF made the biggest move of the day, jumping from 15th to a tie for third in the standings.
Host UNF has a pair of players - Jeff Dennis and Michael Giammaresi - in the top 10 and stands in eighth place after two rounds of play. Jordan Gibb - playing as an individual - is also in the hunt, shooting a 2-over 74 to stand tied for 12th.
"We got three good rounds today," UNF head coach Scott Schroeder said. "Our two freshmen struggled a little bit. We haven't played our best round yet, so maybe that will come tomorrow. Scoring conditions should be good once again and that will give us a chance."
Dennis is tied for sixth after a 1-under 71 on Monday. Giammaresi is tied for seventh after shooting a 1-over 73.
They are both chasing Coastal Carolina's Dustin Johnson who recorded the low round of the tournament on Monday, shooting a 4-under-par 68. He is 3-under par for the tournament, three strokes ahead of Vanderbilt's Jon Curran and six strokes ahead of Dennis. A group of three players that include first- round leader Kevin Chappell are tied for third at 1- over.
"I putted better today and kept the ball in play off the tee," Johnson said. "The wind wasn't blowing as hard, but the course was still playing tough."
Despite the course conditions, UCF managed to put itself in contention with the best round of the tournament a 4-under-par 284. The Golden Knights are tied with Vanderbilt at 23-over, one shot behind Coastal Carolina. Giwon Suh, Greg Forest and Ponte Vedra native Preston Brown all helped UCF's cause, each shooting 69.
They will all be chasing Alabama heading into the final round of play. The Crimson Tide hold a four-stroke lead over Coastal, but are hoping for better results than the last time they were in this position. Alabama held a four-stroke lead heading into the final round of play at this event two years ago, but couldn't hang on, finishing five strokes behind Florida.
Joseph Sykora led Alabama on Monday with a 71, while Gator Todd finished with a double bogey to shoot 73, but still stands in a tie for seventh in the individual standings.
UNF's Michael O'Neal rebounded from an opening- round 81 on Sunday to shoot 74 on Monday. Despite an eagle on the eighth hole, J.C. Horne shot 80, while Gavin Cambre rounded out the scoring for the Ospreys with an 85.
The teams are back on the course for the final round of play Tuesday with tee times beginning at 8 a.m.
