Mississippi State
Sam Hall Intercollegiate
Wood Paces MSU On Day One of Sam Hall Intercollegiate
September 14, 2015 | Men's Golf
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Ben Wood and Ben Follett-Smith turned in stellar efforts to sit in the Top 10 as Mississippi State capped its first two rounds of the season Monday at the Sam Hall Intercollegiate in Hattiesburg.
Both players turned in opening-round 68s. Wood, a Florence, Ala. native, carded nine birdies before firing an even-par second round to head into Tuesday's final round tied for eighth with a 3-under 139.
Follett-Smith followed his career-low 68 with a 72 in the afternoon for a 2-under 140 that landed him six shots off the pace in a tie for 12th.
The duo helped the Bulldogs to fifth place (8-over 576) entering Tuesday.
“I thought we came out and played well in the first round and gave ourselves a bunch of opportunities for birdies,” Bulldog coach Clay Homan said.
Johnny Newham, playing as an individual, shot a 144 over the 36 holes to sit in a tie for 23rd.
Making his career debut, Ross Bell carded a two-round total of 147, good enough to tie for 36th place.
Sophomore Taylor Grant finished Monday in a tie for 53rd at 7-over 151. In his Bulldog debut, Severin Soller shot a 156 to tie for 70th.
“I look forward to seeing us execute at a higher level tomorrow and make up some ground,” Homan said.
McNeese State shot a 549 to take a 12-shot lead over the field heading into Tuesday's final round.
McNeese State's Robert MacIntyre and Victor Lange of Louisiana Tech are tied for the individual lead at 8-under.
The Bulldogs tee up for the final round on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.
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Sam Hall Intercollegiate
1. McNeese State (273+276=549, -19)
2. Louisiana Tech (280+281=561, -7)
3. Louisiana (283+283=566, -2)
4. UTSA (283+288=571, +3)
5. Mississippi State (282+294=576, +8)
6. Little Rock (287+290=577, +9)
7. Rice (284+295=579, +11)
8. Middle Tennessee St. (296+285=581, +13)
T9. Sam Houston St. (290+292=582, +14)
T9. Southern Mississippi (296+289=582, +14)
11. South Alabama (296+289=585, +17)
12. Southeastern Louisiana (303+284=587, +19)
13. Arkansas State (289+301=590, +22)
14. Louisiana-Monroe (300+293=593, +25)
15. Jackson State (316+325=641, +73)
MSU Players
T8. Ben Wood (68+71=139, -3)
T10. Ben Follett-Smith (68+72=140, -2)
T23. Johnny Newnham (72+73=154, +3)*
T36. Ross Bell (73+74=147, +5)
T57. Taylor Grant (73+77=150, +8)
T67. Severin Soller (73+80=153, +11)
*Playing as an idividual
