Climbing The Leaderboard
COLUMBUS - Mother Nature played the role of rally killer on Monday as the 21st-ranked Georgia Southwestern men's golf team was in the midst of a strong comeback when play was suspended due to darkness in the second round of the Aflac/Cougar Invitational. The Hurricanes had jumped from 14th to ninth place before play was halted.
Round 1 of the tournament was not friendly to the field as a two-hour rain delay interrupted the action at the par-71, 6,515-yard Country Club of Columbus. GSW's best showings in the opening round came from J.P. Griffin and Matthew Whittaker who both shot 4-over-par. Andrew Ritchot was a stroke behind with a 76.
GSW finished with a 305 opening-round score.
GSW's turnaround was sparked by Griffin, who tied for third place at this event last year. The senior from Glennville opened Round 2 with three-consecutive birdies and quickly jumped from 25th to 11th. When play was suspended 27 holes in, Griffin stood at 2-over-par overall and tied for 12th.
Fellow senior Nate Gahman rebounded from an opening-round 82 to shoot 1-under through 10 holes of Round 2. Freshman Anders Olsson shot a 79 in the opening round but was even through 10 holes of Round 2.
No. 15 Florida Southern delivered the low round of the day with a 2-over 286 to take the early lead in the team standings. Host Columbus State and Delta State gained ground on the Mocs in Round 2 and stand three strokes back.
GSW returns to the links on Tuesday at 9 a.m. to complete the second round before playing the scheduled final round.
Live stats are available here.
2012 AFLAC/COUGAR INVITATIONAL - TEAM SCORES
| Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | Total | Current | |
| (15) Florida Southern |
286 |
+6 |
|||
| (24) Columbus State |
294 |
+9 | |||
| (RV) Delta State |
289 |
+9 | |||
| (RV) Coker College |
299 |
+14 | |||
| (8) Georgia College |
296 |
+16 | |||
| (RV) Valdosta State |
304 |
+18 | |||
| (18) UNC Pembroke |
304 |
+18 | |||
| (12) North Alabama |
297 |
+18 | |||
| (21) GSW | 305 |
+20 | |||
| Lander | 298 |
+20 | |||
| (RV) Clayton State |
301 |
+22 | |||
| (RV) Florida Tech |
309 |
+25 | |||
| (RV) Queens |
303 |
+27 | |||
| (RV) Carson-Newman | 306 |
+30 | |||
| Saint Leo |
314 |
+32 | |||
| West Georgia |
304 |
+32 | |||
| ( ) - NCAA Division II ranking in latest Golf World/Nike Golf Coaches Poll with RV = received votes | |||||
GSW SCORES
| Place | Rd 1 | Rd 2 | Rd 3 | Total | Current | |
| T12 | J.P. Griffin | 75 |
+2 | |||
| T35 |
Matthew Whittaker |
75 |
+6 | |||
| T46 | Anders Olsson | 79 | +8 |
|||
| T59 |
Nate Gahman | 82 |
+9 | |||
| T79* |
Jungsun Lee | 78 |
+13 | |||
| 87 |
Andrew Ritchot |
76 |
+16 | |||
| * | participating as an individual rather than as a team member | |||||