St. Thomas Leads Tight Field After Two Rounds of SCAC Men's Golf Championship

St. Thomas Leads Tight Field After Two Rounds of SCAC Men's Golf Championship

KERRVILLE, Texas – Following 36 holes of action, University of St. Thomas will carry a one-shot lead going into the final round of competition, as just two shots separate the top three teams after Monday’s first and second rounds of the 2023 SCAC Men’s Golf Championship at Riverhill Country Club. Official Championship Website | Men's Results - Team | Men's Results - Individual | Photo Gallery

Tomorrow’s final 18 holes will begin at 8:40 a.m. CT on the par-72, 7,005-yard layout.   

With two rounds complete, St. Thomas, which finds itself in the lead going into the final round for the first time in program history at the SCAC championship, is sitting at 590 (+14) after rounds of 291 and 299. The Celts trailed Trinity University by two shots following Monday’s opening round but picked up three shots on the Tigers in the afternoon to take the slim one-shot lead.

Following its opening-round 289, Trinity finished with a 299 in Monday’s afternoon round and currently sits at 591 (+15) heading into Tuesday’s final 18 holes. Schreiner University, which was tied for second following the first 18, fired a 301 in the afternoon and currently sits just two strokes behind St. Thomas in third at 592 (+16).

Southwestern University (307-302) sits in fourth with a two-round total of 609 (+33) and University of Dallas rounds out the top five with a team score of 619 (+43) after rounds of 303 and 316. Texas Lutheran University currently sits in sixth (308-314 -- 619) and Centenary College is in seventh with a two-round total of 650 (320-330). 

Trinity’s Daniel Nunez sits atop the individual leaderboard, five shots clear of second place, after rounds of 64 and 76 left him at 140 and four under for the tournament. He is the lone player currently under par and his 64 is the lowest single round in SCAC Golf Championship history, breaking the previous best of 65 set by Sewanee’s Jerre Maynor at the 2006 Championship. Nunez leads the field with nine birdies and his one eagle is tied for best among all competitors.   

Schreiner’s Zhao Yung Gu is one over par (145) after rounds of 71 and 74, while Texas Lutheran’s Tobey Wills and Trinity’s Carter Code are tied for third at two over par with two-round totals of 146. Wills shot the low round of the afternoon session with a 73. St. Thomas’ Patrick Smetek rounds out the top five individuals after firing rounds of 72 and 75 for a three over par 147.   

Smetek was joined by three other teammates (Jonathan Miller – T6th, Cameron Curtis & Cade Kiser [pictured] – T9th) in the top nine to help lift St. Thomas to its one-shot lead going into the final round. The Celts took advantage of the par fives, shooting three under as a team and averaging 4.94 on those holes.

Individually, Trintiy’s Nunez leads the field with nine birdies, while St. Thomas’ Miller had eight. Schreiner’s Yung Gu and Dallas’ Trey Schneider led the field with 27 pars on the day.

To follow along with live scoring throughout the final round, click the links above or go here for the official website of the 2023 SCAC Men's and Women's Golf Championships. 

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