By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Scottsboro, Ala.---Harrison Long (Wilnecote/Tamworth, U.K.) led the Owens Community College men's golf team for the third consecutive round at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament at Goose Pond Colony Golf Course.
Long's 1-over 73 in the third round helped Owens produce a third round team score of 301. Philippe Weppernig (Luzern, Switzerland) shot a 75 for the second consecutive round, while Wyatt Spalding (Summerfield/Petersburg, Mich.) fired a 76.
Christian Bienaime (Lake Brantley/Altamonte Springs, Fla.) produced his best score of the tournament with a 77, as well, while Dominic DiGiacomo (Ocean City/Ocean City, N.J.) shot a 79.
Through three rounds, Long has a score of 214, while DiGiacomo, Spalding and Weppernig each had a total of 223. Bienaime sits at 237.
Those five golfers helped Owens remain in eighth place among the 18 teams in the tournament, although Illinois Central is now in a tie with Owens.
South Mountain (AZ), Tyler Junior College (TX) and Mississippi Gulf Coast are leading the tournament with team scores of 841, 848 and 860, respectively.
Individually, Long sits in a tie for 17th place. His 2-under 214 so far has him nine strokes back of first place Phillip Hickam of Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Tomorrow's final round will determine a team and individual national champion. Owens finished in fifth place last year after a 10th place finish the year before.