Bucs, Ege take leads into Tuesday's final round at Blackthorn Club
JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (Oct. 9, 2023) – With all five of ETSU's golfers shooting par or better, the 11th-ranked Buccaneers grabbed the lead following Monday's second round at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate from the Blackthorn Club.
ETSU, who began the day five shots off the top spot, went low in round two by posting an 8-under 280 to climb up the leaderboard and is at 13-under-par 563 for the tournament. The Blue & Gold used a late charge to pass Charlotte for the team lead as the 49ers enter Tuesday's final round three shots back at 10-under-par 566.
The Bucs played the final two holes at four-under, while Charlotte – who held the team lead for the majority of play on the back nine – finished the last two holes at three-over, resulting in the teams flipping spots on the leaderboard.
Furman, the opening round leader, dropped to third-place at 3-under-par 573. The Paladins shot 7-over 295 on Monday. College of Charleston and Georgia Southern are tied for fourth at 2-under-par 574.
The Bucs are leading the 15-team field with 43 birdies, while they are tied with Charlotte for the lead in par-4 scoring (4.01). The Bucs are second in par-5 scoring (4.65).
"We had a really nice finish and Charlotte dropped a few coming in, so it was a double whammy in a good way," said ETSU men's golf head coach Jake Amos. "We finished nice the last three holes and I am pleased with it. We just need to not overthink it tomorrow. The last two weeks in our preparation it has been 80 degrees with little to no wind and soft greens. Now it's cold, windy and fast firm greens, so I think we haven't adjusted very well. But I think if we just don't overthink it and play relaxed, normal golf we will be fine."
After setting a course, tournament and school record with a 10-under 62 on Sunday, Mats Ege holds a commanding lead on the individual leaderboard. Ege posted a 2-under 70 in round two and opened a six-shot advantage as he sits at 12-under-par 132 through 36 holes.
Ege has some familiar faces chasing him as Archie Davies – who is playing as an individual – and Algot Kleen are tied for third at 5-under-par 139. Georgia Southern's Brycen Jones is in second-place at 6-under-par 138. Davies went low with a 6-under 66 on Monday to jump 29 spots up the leaderboard. The Buccaneer redshirt senior started on the back nine where he went out in 31 and was sitting at seven-under following three straight birdies from No. 5-7, but he finished with a bogey on the par-4, 474-yard No. 9 to post the 66.
Ege is pacing the field in par-4 and par-5 scoring, while his 14 birdies are the most among the 90 players. Ege is playing the par-4s at five-under and the par-5s at eight-under.
Redshirt freshman Jenson Forrester had the lowest round of the day for the Blue & Gold as he carded a 3-under 69 thanks to bagging four birdies, 13 pars and one bogey.
The Bucs will look to win their third Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate in the 25th and final year of the event. ETSU tees off in Tuesday's final round starting at 10:10 a.m.
Live scoring is available via Golfstat.com.
For more information on ETSU men's golf, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's golf tab.
