Tyler McDaniel
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA (April 16, 2016)--Kentucky (566) began the day tied with No. 3 Georgia (568) and ended the day leading by two at the SEC Championship. The individual leaderboard is just as tightly packed with Georgia's Lee McCoy (-2) up one on Auburn's Matt Gilchrest (-1) and two on six others tied for third at even-par.
On a second consecutive windy day on the Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club the Wildcats received solid play nearly across the board. Sophomore Tyler McDaniel (E) is the lead Cat and one of the six players tied for third. McDaniel was 2-under after a 68 yesterday but moved back to even after a 2-over 74. McDaniel was all over the place with his scorecard today as he tallied four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey.
Redshirt sophomore Cooper Musselman (+1) and junior Stephen Stallings Jr. (+1) are part of a group T9. While redshirt senior David Snyder (+4) also falls inside the top-20 at T18.
"We played our hearts out today. Seaside is playing super difficult with the high winds, but we hung in there. There is a ton of golf left. We need to keep making aggressive swings at conservative targets. The bottom line is, this team loves to compete and this great competition. You have to love it," said Kentucky head coach Brian Craig.
Georgia is being led by senior and 2014-2015 All-American Lee McCoy. McCoy with rounds of 68-70 has worked his way to the top of the leaderboard with steady golf. Yesterday McCoy didn't do anything flashy with three birdies and a bogey, today was more of the same with a pair birdies and bogeys.
“I’ve never really even contended for the SEC title,” Lee McCoy said after play was complete. “It’s always been an event where I’ve struggled. So I’m happy to have turned things around thus far. In a tournament of this magnitude, all you ever want is a chance to contend on Sunday. To be out front heading into the last day is a bonus.”
First round individual leader, Vanderbilt junior Matthias Schwab, is now tied for third at even-par. Schwab struggled with a second round 74 after an opening 66.
The tight team leaderboard continues as you make your way down the standings. Behind Kentucky (566) and Georgia (568) comes Texas A&M (570) in third, No. 24 Arkansas (571) and No. 6 Auburn (574) in fifth. It certainly will be an exciting and unpredictable final round!
-Georgia and Kentucky athletics contributed to this story
ROUND ONE STORY
No. 3 Georgia (277) and Kentucky (277) both have a share of the opening day lead at the 2016 SEC Championships. Defending champion LSU (294) is currently in a tie for eleventh and 17 behind.
Georgia, the highest ranked team in the field, received top-10 performances from three players, two of which are T2. Senior Lee McCoy (-2) is one of two Bulldogs presently in a second place tie. McCoy birdied three and bogeyed one on his opening trip around the Seaside Course at the Sea Island Golf Club.
The other is sophomore Zach Healy (-2). Like McCoy, Healy played steady golf tallying four birdies and two bogeys. Rounding out the top-10 trio is junior Greyson Sigg (-1) who is T8.
"We knew coming in to today it was going to be tough," Georgia coach Chris Haack said following the round. "The wind was blowing from the get-go. I was proud of the way our guys played with confidence. They hit the right spots and made their putts and were grinding away. That's all you can ask for on a day like this."
Kentucky made its way to the top thanks to four top-10 golfers. Similar to Georgia, Kentucky is led by a player sitting in a second place tie, in all six players are T2. The Wildcat representative in the half dozen is sophomore Tyler McDaniel (-2). Starting the day on 10 McDaniel bogeyed No. 14 before finishing his day with three birds.
Besides McDaniel junior Stephen Stallings Jr. (-1) is T8 while redshirt sophomore Cooper Musselman (E) and junior David Snyder (E) are T10.
"The wind was super challenging today and I could not be more proud of the guys for the way they handled it. Today was a good start, but only a start. We have a long way to go. I am also really proud of Stephen Stallings for bouncing back and playing an exceptional back nine to post a 1-under par, 69. That was huge for the team,” said Kentucky head coach Brian Craig.
Leading the individual standings is Vanderbilt junior Matthias Schwab (-4). Opening with a 66 Schwab carded back-to-back birdies on two separate occasions (2, 3 and 11 and 12). In all Schwab birdied six and bogeyed two.
It is a tenuous lead for Schwab as 16 golfers start tomorrow within four.
Behind Georgia and Kentucky in the team standings are No. 15 Florida (285) in third while No. 5 Vanderbilt (286) and Tennessee (286) are T4.
-Georgia and Kentucky athletics contributed to this story
ABOUT THE
SEC Championship
54-hole stroke play tournament crowns an individual
champion, then eight teams advance to match play
to
determine the SEC team champion.
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