Tide Two Strokes From Leader at Jerry Pate National
10/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
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BIRMINGHAM - Playing among a field that includes seven of the top twelve ranked teams, including the top three ranked teams, the University of Alabama men's golf team is two strokes away from the lead and in fourth place at the 20th annual Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate.
The tournament began Monday with the first two rounds. It is being played at Birmingham's Old Overton Club. It concludes with the third and final round on Tuesday.
No. 1 ranked Oklahoma State and No. 2 ranked Georgia Tech are tied for the lead among the field of 12 teams, both at sixteen under par. The Cowboys carded 276-276/552 and Georgia Tech shot 273-279/552 on the par 71 course.
Augusta State is third (553) at minus fifteen. Alabama is fourth at fourteen under par after 36 holes. Alabama shot 272-282/554, led in the morning by identical round scores of 66 from senior Clint Provost and freshman Mark Harrell. In fact, each team of five counts only four scores toward its team scorecard. Alabama threw out a 72 in the morning and a 73 in the afternoon round.
No. 2 ranked Georgia (who is tied at No. 2 with Georgia Tech in the Coaches' poll) is two shots behind Alabama (556) and in fifth place. No. 9 ranked Auburn is in sixth place (557) at eleven under par. No. 12 ranked Southern Cal is seventh (561), No.10 ranked TCU is eighth (563), No. 21 Wake Forest is ninth (567), UAB is tenth (574), No. 11 Clemson is 11th (579), and Vanderbilt is twelfth (581).
Four players are tied for the tournament's lead, including Alabama's Mark Harrell. He shot 66 in the morning and 70 in the afternoon and is a six under par. He's tied for first with TCU's David Schultz, USC's Tyler Ley and Georgia's Brendon Todd, all carding 136 for the day.
"I thought it was a great day for Alabama golf today," said Crimson Tide head coach Jay Seawell. "We took our first step into the national scene, and tomorrow (Tuesday) we have a great chance to take another step. I thought it was a whole team effort. From top to bottom we played well. We got to throw out a 72 in the morning and a 73 in afternoon, and that shows this is not a one man team. It was a great team effort today. And I'm very proud of Mark shooting 66-70 as a freshman among this field is impressive. He will come out tomorrow with a chance to win the tournament. I think our entire team is ready to contend, ready to take a step and face the challenge."
Alabama's individuals' scores and places going into the final round find Harrell tied at first (66-70/136), Thomas Hagler tied at 12th (69-69/138), Clint Provost at shot back and tied at 16th (66-73/139), Gator Todd tied at 27th (71-71/142) at even par, and Dwight Rogers tied at 35th (72-72/144).
