AVONDALE, La. - University of New Orleans head coach Chris McCarter felt the timing of this week's Allstate Sugar Bowl Mardi Gras Invitational could not have been better. He was right on all counts.
The Privateers are in good position to defend their 2009 championship following a solid Monday under perfect conditions at TPC Louisiana.
UNO is in third place - just three shots off the lead - following a 2-over par day. The Privateers shot a 1-under par 287 in the morning round before closing with a 291.
NC State, ranked No. 28 nationally, has a two-shot lead over second-place San Diego.
The Matadors, coached by Tim Mickelson - brother of PGA Tour star Phil - got a tournament course-record 64 from Alex Ching to move into the final pairing.
Campbell's Vaita Guillaume matched the 64 in the afternoon after he opened with a 79.
NC State, USD and UNO will play in the final pairing on Tuesday.
"I couldn't ask for a better start considering how poorly we played last week," said McCarter, whose team finished in 12th place at last week's Rice Intercollegiate, its worst finish of the year.
"They got a bad tournament out of their system at Rice, and I was really proud of the way we put ourselves in contention for a title against a stellar field."
UNO senior Hector Arias was the low Privateer, as the Colombian shot an opening-round 70 before closing with an even-par 72. Arias is tied for fourth individually.
Senior Oscar Zetterwall is tied for sixth after consistent rounds of 72-71. Sophomore Sebastian Szirmak is tied for 18th (74-73), while Ken Looper (T-22nd) started hot with a 1-under par 71 before struggling to a 77.
The Privateers also got a 75 in the second round from Derek East (T-63rd), who opened with an 84. He birdied his final two holes of the afternoon.
"It was nice to see Derek come through for us this afternoon," McCarter said. "Ken was really struggling in his second round, so we needed someone to step up, and Derek did it for us. You never know, those two shots could be big on Tuesday."
Ching leads the individual medalist race, standing at 6-under par after a second-round 74. He has a one-shot lead over NC State's Brad Revell, who shot 69-70.
Ching had nine birdies and an eagle in his opening round.
Final-round action begins at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. Admission to the tournament is free.
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