PINEHURST, N.C. (March 4, 2024) – The No. 15 ETSU men's golf team and junior Algot Kleen hold leads following the first two rounds of the Wake Forest Invitational, which got underway Monday at Pinehurst No. 2.
 
Playing in a field where seven of the 14 teams are ranked in the top-50, including top-ranked Auburn, the Buccaneers will take a two-shot lead into Tuesday's final round as the Blue & Gold posted an 8-over-par 568 (287-281) through the first two rounds. No. 40 Wake Forest is in second at 10-over-par 570 (293-277), while No. 1 Auburn (+13), No. 44 Northwestern (+14) and Clemson (+14) round out the top five teams.
 
The Bucs registered the most birdies through the first two rounds with 31, while also generating the top score on the par-4s with an average of 4.10. ETSU was one of five teams to card an eagle on the day, thanks to Remi Chartier posting a two on the par-4, 473-yard No. 14 in round one.
 
Kleen is tied for the lead atop the individual leaderboard with Wake Forest's Daniel Sheedy at 1-under-par 139. Following a 1-over 71 in round one, Kleen finished strong with a 2-under 68 in round two en route to jumping 10 spots up the leaderboard. For the day, Kleen – who is searching for his third career win – totaled 23 pars and seven birdies over the 36 holes played on Monday.
 
Two golfers are one shot back at even-par 140, while three are two shots off the pace in a tie for fifth – include Mats Ege.
 
Ege, who was one of the 15 golfers named to the Haskins Award Spring Watch List earlier in the day, is at 1-over-par 141. Ege went 71-70 on day one to sit inside the top-five.
 
Remi Chartier, the Bucs' leader here a year ago, had a nice finish to the day. Following a 3-over 73 in the opener, Chartier carded a 1-over 71 to sit tied for 20th at 4-over-par 144. Jenson Forrester and Matty Dodd-Berry are tied for 32nd at 7-over-par 147.
 
The Bucs will be grouped with Wake Forest and Auburn in Tuesday's final round. ETSU hits the course at 8:50 a.m.
 
Fans can follow live scoring all weekend at Golfstat.com.
 
For more information on Buccaneer men's golf, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's golf page.