Sonday, Almand in top 10 at Pinehurst Intercollegiate
VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, N.C. – The UNCG men's golf team fell two spots in the team standings Saturday but remains a viable competitor with 18 holes to play in the Pinehurst Intercollegiate.
"We didn't play too well today, but thankfully, we're only 10 shots off the lead," coach Terrance Stewart said of his club, which is tied for seventh in the 16-team event.
UNC Wilmington leads at 585 and the Spartans, only five shots out of third, stand at 595.
Will Almand put together a second straight solid round for the Spartans, following Friday's 72 with a 1-over-par 73. He is tied for eighth among individuals at the tournament, conducted at Pinehurst No. 6, a course redesigned by Tom Fazio in 2005.
The tournament suggests the Spartans' depth is improving. Kyle Sonday, a redshirt junior who is competing as an unattached participant, is tied for third after a 2-under-par 70, vaulting up from 19th. According to NCAA rules, teams must designate five active players and count the top four scores. Others may participate, but their results do not count toward team scores. Another unattached player, Ryan Nagy of UNCW, is near the top of the leaderboard. Nagy is tied for second.
"(Sonday) has started for us before, and there's no reason why – with his continued good play – he won't start for us again at some point," Stewart said. "It's always great to see the kids play well."
Robert Hoadley is tied for 26th with a two-day total of 149 (75-74), while Andy Knox, who was tied for second after day one, shot 79 Saturday after Friday's 70 to fall into a tie for 26th with Hoadley. Colin Chapman (80-74—154) is tied for 55th, Matt Younts (84-73—157) is tied for 62nd and Justin Clement (81-77—158) is tied for 68th. Younts is also playing unattached.
The tournament concludes Sunday.
PINEHURST INTERCOLLEGIATE PRESENTED BY GATORADE
Pinehust No. 6, Pinehurst Resort (Par-72, 6904 yards)
VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, N.C.
Team scores
1. UNC Wilmington 301-284--585; 2. Virginia Tech 297-289—586; 3. Michigan State 293-297—590;4. VCU 297-294—591; T5. Penn State 293-301—594; T5. Eastern Michigan 291-303—594; 7. UNCG 297-298—595; 8. Richmond 295-302—597; 9. Marshall 300-300—600; 10. Old Dominion 298-303—601; 11. Radford 300-306—606; 12. Xavier 303-305 –608; 13. Francis Marion 307-304—611; 14. Belmont 312-302—614; 15. Western Illinois 315-314—629; 16. Eastern Kentucky 309-329—638.
Individual scores
Top 10: 1. Casey Olsen (Eastern Michigan) 72-69—141; 2. Ryan Nagy * (UNC Wilmington) 72-70—142; T3. Josh Brock (UNC Wilmington) 74 69 143; T3. Brian Churchill-Smith (Eastern Michigan) 69-74—143; T3. Kyle Sonday * UNCG 73-70—143; T6. Bosten Miller (Marshall) 71-73—144; T6. Mikey Moyers (Virginia Tech) 70-74—144; T8. Will Almand (UNCG) 72-73--145; T8. T.J. Howe (Penn State) 70-75—145; 10. Matt Ball, Jr. (VCU) 74-72—146.
Other UNCG golfers: T26. Robert Hoadley 75-74—149; T26. Andy Knox 70-79—149; T55. Colin Chapman 80-74—154; T62. Matt Younts * 84-73—157. T68. Justin Clement 81-77—158.
* Competing as an unattached participant
- UNCG-