The cream rose to the top of the leaderboard during the second round of the Division III NCAA Men's 2010 Golf Championships. The top-ranked programs in the division overcame uncharacteristically high opening rounds with second round scores that were low enough to enable them to jump to the top of the leaderboard. At the close of the second round, four of the five teams leading the most coveted event of the season were ranked in the top five in the country heading into the event.
After firing a 23-over 307 in round one, the Methodist University Monarchs posted one of the low team scores of the day (a 2-over 290). They are in the lead by two over Huntingdon College. Claremont Mudd Scripps' Tain Lee remains in the lead of the individual portion of the competition after posting a 3-under 69. University of La Verne's Mitchell Fedorka is in second place after carding a 2-under 70.
Methodist University took advantage of Hershey Links, which has undoubtedly played easier than the East Course at Hershey Country Club (the other course hosting the event). Josh Schrader, who plays in the team's first slot (traditionally reserved for a squad's best player), lead the Monarchs in scoring. Schrader closed with birdies on three of his final six holes. He fired a 3-under 69. Trey Howell also helped the Monarch's cause by shooting a 2-under 70. Howell and Schrader are each in a tie for seventh place (+4).
Huntingdon College also recorded a team score of 2-over (290) on Hershey Links. The Hawks were led by Chase Blaich, who fired an admirable 2-under 70. Blaich is also in a tie for seventh place. The low rounds posted by the Monarchs and Hawks enabled the top-ranked programs in the division to improve 11 and 13 spots, respectively, since the close of the first round.
Guilford College backed their solid first round with another solid round of 13-over on the East Course. They are alone in third place. The Quakers jumped ahead of the team from Skidmore College, who held the lead after the first round. Skidmore College's squad fired 23-over in its second round. They also played on the East Course. Thomas More College was the final team that made the cut. Teams needed to fire a two-day total of 53-over or better to make it to the final two rounds of the event.
Tain Lee continued his fine play with another under par round of 69 despite making a double bogey on the par-4 17th hole at Hershey Links. Lee was able to collect himself, however, and closed his round with a birdie on the final hole. The final round of the tournament will begin with Lee in first place by a sizeable margin of six strokes. The best round did not belong to Lee, however. Susquehanna University's Mitch Mercer, who is competing as an individual, fired the low round of the day. Mercer bookended his six-under-par 66 on Hershey Links with birdies. Mercer's red-hot round moved him from a tie for 78th to a tie for fourth.
The third round action will resume tomorrow on the East Course at Hershey Country Club. Please subscribe to receive updated scores and recaps.
Team Leaders (Click Here to view the full leaderboard)
1. Methodist University (+25)
2. Huntingdon College (+27)
3. Guilford College (+28)
4. Skidmore College (+30)
5. Otterbein College (+34)
Individual Leaders (Click Here to view the full leaderboard)
1. Tain Lee, Claremont Mudd Scripps (-5)
T2. Mitchell Fedorka, University of La Verne (+1)
T2. Steven Strock, Hope College (+1)
T4. Mitch Mercer, Susquehanna University (+2)
T4. Chris Morris, Centre College (+2)
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