The ACU golf team is two days into the three-day Southland Conference tournament. The ‘Cats are in eighth place in the 12 team field with 18 holes to play. Their team score of 612 has them 32 shots off of Sam Houston State, the tournament leader.
Junior Corbin Renner is setting the pace for the Wildcats so far. He currently sits in third place with a 142. The ever-consistent senior Trey Sullivan was on the move on Tuesday with a score of 73. He jumped nearly 20 spots to land in 13th place.
Freshmen Kaden Walters (160) and Kyle Karnei (161) are providing support from the three and four slots and junior Luke Carpenter finished Tuesday with a 177.
“We are looking to finish this thing strong,” Karnei said. “Wednesday should be our best day yet.”
Central Arkansas’ junior, Pep Angles, leads the tournament with a 136. Through 36 holes of golf, he has 10 birdies to only two bogies. He was recently named the Southland golfer of the month.
Renner remains just six shots away from first. If he can maintain his consistent play, there is a chance the leaders will fall back to him by the afternoon.
Sam Houston is holding onto a six-stroke lead over the field. Central Arkansas, Southeastern Louisiana, Stephen F. Austin and McNeese State round out the top five.
The ‘Cats came out hot in day one. Their team total of 299 had them tied for fourth with Stephen F. Austin University. ACU was only nine shots off of Sam Houston State at that point.
Renner once again led the team’s individual charge. His first round of 71 landed him in a tie for third, but again it was Angles who had the low round on Monday with a 68.
Walters hit the ball exceptionally well and shot a 74, which was good enough for 10th. Sullivan finished the day with a 76 and Karnei continued his solid play with a 78. Carpenter’s 86 rounded out the team.
If the Wildcats are going to get back into the top five, they are going to have to find the confidence they displayed on Monday. The fields are still relatively close together which should play into the hands of ACU.
Walters and Karnei need to limit their mistakes on the back nine and continue to make birdies on the front nine. With Renner and Sullivan shooting like they are, the ‘Cats can still make a move.
