Privateers Remain in Second Place at Southland Conference Championship After Round Two

DAY TWO RESULTS | DAY ONE RECAP
 
SAN ANTONIO - The University of New Orleans Golf team remains in second place after two rounds of the 2023 Southland Conference Golf Championship after shooting a 291 at Hill Country Golf and Country Club on Wednesday afternoon.
 
After a rough start including hitting two of their opening tee shots out of bounds, New Orleans sat at eight over par and had dropped down four spots to sixth place in the standings early Wednesday morning. But for the second day in a row New Orleans' showed resiliency when not having their best stuff.
 
Grayson Gilbert shot his second consecutive round under par after back-to-back rounds of 71. Gilbert has been rock steady for the Privateers during the opening two rounds of the Championship with 28 pars out of 36 holes so far – the most in the field. The senior made birdies on holes nine, ten and eighteen today to give him five so far in the tournament. He sits tied for fourth going into the final round at 2-under par.
 
Ryan Fulton and Henry Augenstein both sit tied for 14^th place after both shot even par during round two. Fulton's fifth career eagle on hole four and a birdie on hole six put the junior at 2-under-par for the day after the opening nine holes. The Crowley native added two more birdies but would finish his day at even par after an up and down back nine.
 
Augenstein sat at 3-over-par after the first three holes of the afternoon before rallying. Birdies on holes six and eight left him 1-over par entering the back nine. Henry made par on holes 10 and 11 before a pair of birdies and pars on three of the last four holes also left him even on the afternoon.
 
As a squad the Privateers continue to lead the field in pars with 115 and have made 27 birdies and an eagle headed into tomorrow's final round. New Orleans' score of 581 is their best score after the opening 36-holes of a conference championship since the 2007-2008 squad opened the 2008 Sun Belt Championships with a 574.
 
The final round of the Southland Conference Championship gets underway tomorrow for the Privateers with Mason Roberts teeing off at 10:30 a.m. New Orleans will once again be paired with Lamar and Augusta. The final round will be broadcast on ESPN+ with coverage starting at 12:00 p.m. Katie Goodman will provide play-by-play with Trinity University head coach Shelby Devore providing analysis.
 
DAY TWO RESULTS
2 New Orleans, U. of 290, 291 | 581
T4 Grayson Gilbert (4) 71, 71 | 142
T13 Ryan Fulton (1) 73, 72 | 145
T13 Henry Augenstein (3) 73, 72 | 145
T27 Kyle Bennett (2) 75, 76 | 151
T31 Mason Roberts (5) 73, 79 | 152

HEAD COACH JEFF LORIO
"I'm so proud of the fight the guys showed out there today. We got off to a very disappointing start. I think we were eight over par after three or four holes. These guys dug their heels in and really competed well over the last 14 holes."
 
"Augusta has played well over the last two rounds, but our guys have earned their spot with them tomorrow in the final pairing for final round. Nobody knows what will happen out there, but I can promise you our guys will throw everything they have at it tomorrow and try to bring home a championship."

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