Golf Takes First-Day Lead at Southern Miss

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The University of New Orleans golf team posted the low round of the afternoon on Monday to move into first place following two rounds of play at the Sam H. Hall Intercollegiate at Hattiesburg Country Club.
 
The Privateers shot a 1-over par 285 in the second round despite blustery conditions after a morning-round 296 to take a five-shot lead into Tuesday's final round.
 
Sophomore Ken Looper is tied for second in the individual race after rounds of 72-71, putting the Mandeville native one shot behind individual leader Hunter Hawkins of Jacksonville State.
 
The Privateers have three players in the top seven individually. Senior Adam Cornelson shot a 1-under par 70 in the afternoon -- after recording a 74 in the opening round -- to jump into fourth place overall.
 
Hector Arias shook off an opening-hole double bogey to shoot an even-par 71 in the second round ? moving the All-Louisiana junior into seventh place after a first-round 75.
 
Jose Toledo (76-73) and Oscar Zetterwall (75-74) are tied for 27th. Freshman Sebastian Szirmak, competing as an individual only, shot 83-74 to stand tied for 66th.
 
UNO is vying for its second straight team title after winning the Squire Creek Invitational two weeks ago in Choudrant.
 
"The wind didn't stop for 36 holes today," said UNO head coach Chris McCarter. "I'm not sure if I've been in a tournament like that. The afternoon round was really solid. The guys had to really grind it out today, and they did a really good job."
 
The Privateers, who are 13-over par as a team, are five shots ahead of Middle Tennessee and Jacksonville State. Tournament-host Southern Mississippi is seven shots behind, while Illinois State is in fifth place and stands nine shots back.
 
The 14-team field will wrap up the tournament with the final round on Tuesday morning. Live stats are available by visiting www.golfstat.com.