March 10, 2008

RESULTS

LAFAYETTE, La. - Senior Jordan Utley is the leader in the clubhouse at 4-under-par and the Richmond men's golf team is in second place out of 14 teams through two rounds of the Louisiana Classics, played Monday at Oakbourne Country Club.

Utley shot a 3-under-par 69 in the first round on the par-72, 7,141-yard ocurse and a 1-under 71 in the second round to take a one-shot lead into the final round Tuesday. The Spiders are four shots off the leader Colorado, which finished the day at 7-over 583. Richmond is at 11-over-par 587 after rounds of 8-over 296 and 3-over 291.

Utley has now shot eight of his last nine rounds at par or below after his two under-par rounds Monday. Six of Utley's 15 rounds have been under-par this season and he will be playing for his third collegiate individual title on Tuesday.

An Utley victory would give him two titles in his last four tournaments and give the Spiders' medalist honors in three of the last four tournaments dating back to the fall. Utley won Richmond's final tournament of the fall, the ODU/Seascape Invitational. Sophomore Hunter Townsend had won the previous week at the Georgetown Invitational.

In the last four tournaments, Richmond has finished in the top-5 and Utley has finished in top-10 as an individual.

"Jordan played a phenomenal first round and kept it going in the second round," said Richmond head coach Adam Decker, who has led the Spiders to a pair of tournament team titles in his three seasons. "He has been playing excellent for us. We played decent as a team, Tim (Courtney) played a great second round. If we can get some of the other guys to shoot low numbers Tuesday we could give ourselves a chance to win."

Southern Methodist's Kelly Kraft is one shot back of Utley at 3-under 141 and there is a four-way tie for third at even-par 144.

Richmond junior Tim Courtney is tied for seventh at 1-over-par 145 after shooting a 75 in the first round and a 2-under-par 70 in the second round.

Senior Billy Hanes is tied for 46th at 8-over 152 after a pair of 76s. Sophomore Robert Lindstrom and junior Grant Rafield are tied for 52nd at 9-over 153. Lindstrom shot a 79 in the first round and regrouped for a 2-over 74 in the second round. Rafield shot a 76 in the morning round and a 77 in the afternoon.