Bulldogs Lead Competition on Day One of Steelwood Intercollegiate Invitational
October 26, 2019 | Men's Golf
By McRae Clay, Student Assistant/Communications
MOBILE, Alabama – Mississippi State men's golf lit up the scorecard and posted a 12-under team score during the first two rounds of the Steelwood Intercollegiate Invitational on Saturday.
The Golf Dawgs are currently leading the 13-team field by 12 strokes, but play was suspended due to darkness. A few golfers will finish up round two before the final round tees off on Sunday morning.
Three Bulldogs shot below par-72, with senior Garrett Johnson atop the leaderboard at six-under.
Johnson sank 10 birdies, the most of the 75-player field. He fired his lowest round of the season a six-under, 66, in the second round after going bogey free on the back nine. Johnson recorded three birdies in a row on holes three through five. He took advantage of his strong iron game which enabled him to setup several 15-20 feet puts that he was able to capitalize on for birdie.
Sophomore Ford Clegg finished right behind him at five-under and holds sole possession of second place on the strength of one-under and four-under rounds on the day. He added nine birdies between the two rounds fueled by six during the second round. He is looking to improve off a seventh-place finish at the 2018 Steelwood Collegiate Invitational.
Freshman Hunter Logan completes the MSU trio in the top 10 and garnered a score one-under to sit in a four-way tie for seventh position. His day was highlighted by an eagle on the par-four, fifth hole in the second round. He drove the green and made a 20-foot put to mark a two on his scorecard.
"Really proud of our team today," head coach Dusty Smith said. "I thought we did a great job handling the conditions today and overcoming adversity. Garrett and Ford played two huge rounds for us this afternoon, and Hunter did a nice job stay consistent all day."
As a team, the Bulldogs are 12-under par at the 72, 7096-yard Steelwood Country Club. Kennesaw State is in second, 12 strokes behind the Golf Dawgs. No. 38 Arkansas State is in third after recording a score of two-over. Kennesaw State is one of the four teams who did not finish the final round.
"Today was a total team effort, and that is what it takes to compete at a high level. Tomorrow is a big day for our team because it's our next opportunity," Smith said. "I know if we come out with the same amount of effort and enthusiasm we did today, we will be successful. Tomorrow is all about focusing on what you can control and staying in the moment. I am excited to watch this team compete!"
Junior Austin Fulton improved his round one score of 74 by two strokes in the second round. He is the fourth Bulldog in the top 20 finishing and is tied for 17 th.
Senior Peng Pichaikool looks to finish the event strong after he marked scores of 73 and 75 on his scorecard today.
Freshman William Wann and sophomore Ben Nelson represented the Maroon and White as individuals. Wann did not finish his second round due to darkness but shot 78 in his first round.
Nelson made his sophomore season debut. He played a strong second round after he collected back-to-back birdies on holes 10 and 11 and going bogey free the entire back nine.
Wann will finish his second round. Then, MSU will return to the course for 18 holes on Sunday, 9:20 a.m. CT start on hole 1.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the program on Instagram or Twitter by searching @HailStateMG.
Steelwood Collegiate Invitational
1.Mississippi State (-12, 286+272 = 564)
2. Kennesaw State (E, 291+DNF)
3. Arkansas State (+2, 288+290 = 578)
4. Indiana (+3, 289+290 = 579)
5. Richmond (+7, 293+DNF)
T6. South Alabama (+9, 301+284 = 585)
T6. Cincinnati (+9, 291+294 = 585)
8. Kentucky (+10, 296 +290 = 586)
9.Wofford College (+11, 298+289 = 587)
10. Rice (+16, 298+294 = 592)
11. North Alabama (+21, 301+DNF)
12. Navy (+22, 303+DNF)
13. Davidson College (+25, 306+295 = 601)
Mississippi State Bulldogs
1.Garrett Johnson (-7, 71+66= 137)
2. Ford Clegg (-5, 71+68 = 139)
T7. Hunter Logan (-1, 71+72 = 143)
T17. Austin Fulton (+2, 74+72 = 146)
T36. Peng Pichaikool (+4, 73+75 = 148)
Individuals
T36. Ben Nelson (+4, 79+69 = 148)
T58. William Wann (+9, 78+DNF)
MOBILE, Alabama – Mississippi State men's golf lit up the scorecard and posted a 12-under team score during the first two rounds of the Steelwood Intercollegiate Invitational on Saturday.
The Golf Dawgs are currently leading the 13-team field by 12 strokes, but play was suspended due to darkness. A few golfers will finish up round two before the final round tees off on Sunday morning.
Three Bulldogs shot below par-72, with senior Garrett Johnson atop the leaderboard at six-under.
Johnson sank 10 birdies, the most of the 75-player field. He fired his lowest round of the season a six-under, 66, in the second round after going bogey free on the back nine. Johnson recorded three birdies in a row on holes three through five. He took advantage of his strong iron game which enabled him to setup several 15-20 feet puts that he was able to capitalize on for birdie.
Sophomore Ford Clegg finished right behind him at five-under and holds sole possession of second place on the strength of one-under and four-under rounds on the day. He added nine birdies between the two rounds fueled by six during the second round. He is looking to improve off a seventh-place finish at the 2018 Steelwood Collegiate Invitational.
Freshman Hunter Logan completes the MSU trio in the top 10 and garnered a score one-under to sit in a four-way tie for seventh position. His day was highlighted by an eagle on the par-four, fifth hole in the second round. He drove the green and made a 20-foot put to mark a two on his scorecard.
"Really proud of our team today," head coach Dusty Smith said. "I thought we did a great job handling the conditions today and overcoming adversity. Garrett and Ford played two huge rounds for us this afternoon, and Hunter did a nice job stay consistent all day."
As a team, the Bulldogs are 12-under par at the 72, 7096-yard Steelwood Country Club. Kennesaw State is in second, 12 strokes behind the Golf Dawgs. No. 38 Arkansas State is in third after recording a score of two-over. Kennesaw State is one of the four teams who did not finish the final round.
"Today was a total team effort, and that is what it takes to compete at a high level. Tomorrow is a big day for our team because it's our next opportunity," Smith said. "I know if we come out with the same amount of effort and enthusiasm we did today, we will be successful. Tomorrow is all about focusing on what you can control and staying in the moment. I am excited to watch this team compete!"
Junior Austin Fulton improved his round one score of 74 by two strokes in the second round. He is the fourth Bulldog in the top 20 finishing and is tied for 17 th.
Senior Peng Pichaikool looks to finish the event strong after he marked scores of 73 and 75 on his scorecard today.
Freshman William Wann and sophomore Ben Nelson represented the Maroon and White as individuals. Wann did not finish his second round due to darkness but shot 78 in his first round.
Nelson made his sophomore season debut. He played a strong second round after he collected back-to-back birdies on holes 10 and 11 and going bogey free the entire back nine.
Wann will finish his second round. Then, MSU will return to the course for 18 holes on Sunday, 9:20 a.m. CT start on hole 1.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the program on Instagram or Twitter by searching @HailStateMG.
Steelwood Collegiate Invitational
1.Mississippi State (-12, 286+272 = 564)
2. Kennesaw State (E, 291+DNF)
3. Arkansas State (+2, 288+290 = 578)
4. Indiana (+3, 289+290 = 579)
5. Richmond (+7, 293+DNF)
T6. South Alabama (+9, 301+284 = 585)
T6. Cincinnati (+9, 291+294 = 585)
8. Kentucky (+10, 296 +290 = 586)
9.Wofford College (+11, 298+289 = 587)
10. Rice (+16, 298+294 = 592)
11. North Alabama (+21, 301+DNF)
12. Navy (+22, 303+DNF)
13. Davidson College (+25, 306+295 = 601)
Mississippi State Bulldogs
1.Garrett Johnson (-7, 71+66= 137)
2. Ford Clegg (-5, 71+68 = 139)
T7. Hunter Logan (-1, 71+72 = 143)
T17. Austin Fulton (+2, 74+72 = 146)
T36. Peng Pichaikool (+4, 73+75 = 148)
Individuals
T36. Ben Nelson (+4, 79+69 = 148)
T58. William Wann (+9, 78+DNF)
Players Mentioned
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