Falcons Take Lead Into Final Round of John Piper Intercollegiate

Monday, September 19

Bowling Green, Ohio

All Day

Bowling Green State University

John Piper Intercollegiate

September 19, 2011 | Men's Golf

By: by Matthew Daley, Athletic Communications Intern

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DAY ONE TEAM LEADERBOARD (.pdf)

DAY ONE PLAYER LEADERBOARD (.pdf)

DAY ONE COURSE STATS (.pdf)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The Bowling Green State University men's golf team will seek its third consecutive championship at its annual home tournament when it carries a four-shot lead into the final round of the 11th John Piper Intercollegiate on Tuesday (Sept. 20).

On a soggy day at the Stone Ridge Golf Club, the Falcons built an early lead by shooting a first-round low score of 305. As playing conditions improved in the second round, Bowling Green maintained pace with other contenders. The team shot 293 over the final 18 holes and lost only one stroke to Cleveland State and Loyola. Those schools occupy second and third place, respectively.

Fourth-place Indianapolis is 15 strokes behind BGSU's 36-hole total of 598.

The Falcons also fielded a second squad consisting of four players. Each player's score counted towards the team's final total. The "Orange" team shot 322 in the first round but improved by 11 strokes over the final 18 holes to complete the day with a composite 633. This group resides in ninth place, 13 strokes ahead of Indianapolis' second team.

Bowling Green is using each member of the squad's nine-man roster in this week's tournament. Of those players, five are currently in the top 20 out of 56 total golfers.

Wes Gates and Joe Cooper led the way for BGSU on Monday (Sept. 19). Each carded a 36-hole score of 148 and are tied for sixth place and are just two shots behind a group of four that is tied for first. Gates posted rounds of 75 and 73, while Cooper's second round score (72) was the day's best for the Falcons. Cooper, a freshman, is playing in his first John Piper tournament.

Charlie Olson, part of BGSU's "Orange" team, matched Gates' 73 in the second round and finished the day with a 150 for an 11th place tie. Right on Olson's heels is senior Parker Hewit (151). Fellow senior Drew Preston earned a 153 (76-77). Hewit is tied for 13th, while Preston resides in an 18th place tie.

Preston, the two-time defending John Piper champion, trails the current leaders by seven strokes.

Other Falcon participants included Chris Melvin (155, 24th), Torey Brummett (158, T-33rd), Bryan Mitchell (160, T-40th) and Spencer Berk (165, 49th).

The tournament co-leaders, at 146 after 36 holes, are E.J. Tackett (IPFW), Simon Reyers (Detroit), Mark Olbrych (Youngstown State) and Michael Lower (Youngstown State). Lower is participating as an individual.

Play improved significantly in the second round. The 56-player field shot an average of 80.31 in the first round but imrpoved that by over four strokes (76.09) during the final 18 holes. Only one hole (par-three 16th) was more difficult in the second round. The latter portion of the day also included three eagles, whereas none were shot in the first round.

BGSU's Brummett leads all players on par-three holes, currently shooting one-under-par on those parts of the course. The par-fives treated several Falcon golfers well. Three Falcons are among the top eight scorers on the par-five holes. Cooper and Olson were each four-under-par, and Olson earned one of the day's three eagles. The team shot a total of seven under on the par-fives.

The final 18 holes begin on Tuesday with a 9:00 a.m. shotgun start. Final results and a complete recap will be available on BGSUFalcons.com shortly after the conclusion of play.