Baton Rouge, La. – Chandler Rusk shot a team-best 4-over par but the Wichita State University men's golf team slipped to 11th place at the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional.
Rusk carded a 76, knocking seven strokes off yesterday's tally. The junior was steady and was the only Shocker to avoid a double-bogey on Friday. His birdies on Holes 2 and 18 helped salvage a tough day for the team.
Hunter Sparks, Louis Cohen Boyer, and Rafael Becker all entered the day in the top 20, with Sparks challenging for the individual lead. None were as fortunate in the second round as Sparks finished 5-over, Boyer 6-over, and Becker 7-over. Boyer carded three birdies but fell victim to three double-bogeys.
Sparks is still the team's individual leader, though he dropped from a tie for sixth to a tie for 18th. The senior sits 5-over (72-77=149). Boyer is next at 8-over (74-78=152), good for a tie for 30th. Becker is 10-over (75-79=154) and in a tie for 39th.
Like Rusk, Calvin Pearson rebounded from a disappointing first round. Pearson checked in with a 6-over 78, six strokes better than Thursday's effort. Rusk is now is 61st and Pearson in a tie for 70th.
Florida continues to hold the team lead, thanks to owning the top three individuals. The 13th-ranked (GolfWeek) Gators have an 8-stroke lead over the top seed and No. 2 team nationally, Alabama. The Crimson Tide inched two strokes closer to their co-SEC competitor. Florida's T.J. Vogel (70-71=141) leads teammate Tyler McCumber (70-72=142) by a single stroke for the individual lead. Northwestern's Nicholas Losole is +1 (73-72=145) to become the front-runner to advance out of pool of players whose schools do not qualify for the NCAA Championship.
The 11-seed Shockers are +37 (304-309=613) at The University Club of Baton Rouge, which is playing at 7,436 yards for the tournament. Wichita State is one stroke behind Mississippi State for 10th and five strokes behind UAB for ninth.
The regional wraps up Saturday with a 7:30 a.m. tee time. The top five teams and the top individual not from a qualifying school advance to the NCAA Championships, held later this month in Atlanta, Ga.
