WAILUA — Georgia Southern put together a pair of outstanding team rounds to take a three-stroke lead into tomorrow’s Final 18 of the 10th Annual Kaua’i Collegiate Cup hosted by Western Kentucky University and the County of Kaua‘i. Paced by
WAILUA — Georgia Southern put together a pair of outstanding team rounds to take a three-stroke lead into tomorrow’s Final 18 of the 10th Annual Kaua’i Collegiate Cup hosted by Western Kentucky University and the County of Kaua‘i.
Paced by sophomore Logan Blondell’s blistering five-under-par 139 (70-69), the Eagles’ had three players in the top seven following a grueling 36 holes of play today on Kaua’i’s beautiful oceanfront Wailua Golf Course, a 6,981, par-72, layout that is considered one of the top public courses in the nation.
GSU’s Drew Lethem is tied for fourth at 143 (71-72) and Spencer Fulford finished the day at 144 (73-71). However, Fulford is competing as an individual in the tournament.
East Tennessee trails Georgia Southern by just three shots at an even-par 576. Buccaneer junior Seamus Power is just one off the pace with his four-under 140 (71-69).
Meanwhile, sophomore Michael Loppnow led his Wayland Baptist team to a third-place tie with Sam Houston State (586), just three strokes back at 142 (71-69).
WBU’s Pioneers made quite a charge in the second round, shaving 12 strokes off their first-18 total to post a 287 for that round.
The remarkable individual comeback of the day was put in the books by Lipscomb freshman Brandon Mundie, who followed his first-round 79 with a 69 on his following trip.
After just four athletes broke par in the first round, things heated up later in the day and nine players bettered par in the final 18 of the day, led by Wayland Baptist rookie Bradley Sinnett, who improved his score by nine strokes, going from a four-over 76 to a blistering five-under 67.
That effort equalled the fifth best round in the 10-year history of the event.
The Eagles jumped out in front on the first 18, carding a four-under team total of 284 to take a five-stroke advantage over second-place East Tennessee (289) and 10 strokes ahead of Sam Houston State.
Four athletes recorded sub-par rounds in the first round, three of those from Georgia Southern — first-round leader Logan Blondell (two-under 70) along with teammates Drew Lethem and Joe Monte, both with 71s. Also under par was East Tennessee’s Seamus Power (71). Blondell played a near-flawless round, carding three birdies, 14 pars and just one bogey.
There was a five-way tie for fifth place at even-par 72 and the remaining 55 players in the field were over-par for the round on the rugged Wailua layout.
The 10th Annual Kaua‘i Collegiate Cup finishes today with the final 18 holes being played starting at 7:30 a.m.
There is no admission charge and the public is invited to view the competition between some of the top college golfers including two Hawai‘i colleges: Brigham Young University-Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i Pacific University.
