East Carolina University
Jacksonville University Invitational
ECU In Eighth At JU Invitational After Two Rounds
January 31, 2011 | Men's Golf
Jan. 31, 2011
Second Round Results and Live Stats
PONTE VERDA BEACH, Fla. - The 43rd-ranked East Carolina men's golf team is in a tie for eighth-place after two rounds of the 2011 Jacksonville University Invitational at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at famed TPC Sawgrass.
ECU opened its day on Monday by collecting a cumulative team tally of 305 in the first round. The Pirates followed up the first round 305 by carding a team collective score of 298 in the second round. The Pirates' aggregate score of 603 through two rounds leaves them three strokes back of 40th-ranked Clemson in seventh-place and six shots behind No. 21 Wake Forest in fifth-place.
East Carolina was led through the first two rounds by David Watkins, who finished his day on Monday with a two-round total of four-over-par 144. The score tied him with four others for 16th place individually.
Watkins began his day with an even-par 72 in the first round, but he dropped four strokes in the second round with a 76. He made two birdies in the first round en route to a score of par, but shot four-over on the back nine in round two.
ECU had three players finish the first two rounds in the top 25 individually. Harold Varner carded a four-over in the first round followed by a one-over in round two to finish the first 36 holes at five-over (149) tied for 21st with teammate Zach Edmondson. Edmondson fired a three-over in round one and then a two-over in the second round.
Number one Florida is the leader through the first two rounds. The Gators opened the event with a first round 286 as a team before shooting a team score of 283 in the second round for a two-round total of 569. The score leaves the Gators 17 strokes ahead of second-place North Florida (586). The Ospreys fired a 286 as a team in the second round to move four shots ahead of third-place Liberty.
Florida's Bank Vongvanij is the leader through the first two rounds. Vongvanij commenced Monday with two rounds of three-under. Vongvanij's two-round tally of 138 leaves him three strokes ahead of current second-place individual Evan Beck of Wake Forest. Five other competitors are within six strokes of the overall lead.
The third and final round of the JU Invitational is scheduled to get underway at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 1.
