By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Scottsboro, Ala.---Harrison Long's (Wilnecote/Tamworth, U.K.) second round 69 helped the Owens Community College men's golf team fire a 290 for the second consecutive round to open National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament play today.
Another key contributor on the second day for Owens was Wyatt Spalding (Summerfield/Petersburg, Mich.), who shot a 72 and improved his first round score by three strokes.
Other contributors include: Dominic DiGiacomo (Ocean City/Ocean City, N.J.), who shot a 74, Philippe Weppernig (Luzern, Switzerland), who shot a 75, and Christian Bienaime (Lake Brantley/Altamonte Springs, Fla.), who shot an 82.
Two-round totals so far for Owens include: Long (72-69---141, -3), DiGiacomo (70-74---144, E), Spalding (75-72---147, +3), Weppernig (73-75---148, +4), Bienaime (78-82---160, +16).
Long's performance has him in a tie for 18th place, just eight strokes out of first place.
Overall, the team's 580 through two rounds has Owens in eighth place in the team standings, just one stroke behind Illinois Central and three strokes behind Kirkwood.
South Mountain (AZ) is in first place following rounds of 277 and 276. Mississippi Gulf Coast shot a 283-277) and is in second place, while Tyler (TX) has shot a 282-284 for third place.
Mississippi Gulf Coast's Phillip Hickam and Grant Motter hold the top two individual spots in the tournament so far. Hickam is 11-under, while Motter is 8-under.
The tournament, which contains 18 teams and nearly 120 golfers, will crown a national champion following two more rounds Thursday and Friday.