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Tournament Results and Final Round Live Scoring
University of Cincinnati junior Jared O'Kelley (Canton, Ga./Creekview High School) carded the best two-round score of his career, a 7-under par 70-67=137, to lead the field while the Bearcats rank second in the team standings after the first day at the Invitational at The Ocean Course on Friday in Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
The two-day, 54-hole event concludes Saturday. Final-round play begins at The Course (par-72, 7,115 yards) starting at 8 a.m. ET. The Bearcats will tee off beginning at 8:54 a.m. Live scoring is available at GolfStat.com.
// O'KELLEY ATOP THE LEADERBOARD
O'Kelley, who carded back-to-back below-par rounds for the fourth time in his career, owns a three-stroke lead over College of Charleston's William Rainey (70-70=140) and Troy's Cam Norman (71-69=140).
O'Kelley posted five birdies on his opening round, including three over the final four holes to tie UC teammate Brennen Walsh (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder High School) first after round one. He recorded four birdies on the front nine and a birdie and eagle on the back nine to tie his personal-best single-round score of 5-under 67 in round two. He also carded a 67 in the second round of the 2013 Cleveland State Invitational.
"Jared is very diligent when it comes to his preparation and understanding and executing a game plan," UC head coach Doug Martin said. "He is the best player on the team at controlling the trajectory of his ball and that played a big factor with the wind we saw today."
// BEARCATS ARE SECOND HEADING INTO FINAL ROUND
Cincinnati is second in the 11-team field at 6-over 291-291=582, four strokes behind tournament host College of Charleston, who finished 2-over 291-287=578.
"We signed up for this tournament for a reason because this course will let you know how you're playing in a hurry," Martin said. "We played through a steady wind all day with more gusty conditions in the afternoon. But I'm proud of the team and how they stuck together, showed their competitiveness and fought the conditions to the very end."
Georgia Southern, ranked No. 48 in the GolfStat rankings entering the tournament, is third at 7-over 291-292=583. No. 29 UAB (12-over 293-295=588) and Troy (12-over 298-290=588) are tied for fourth. Kentucky is sixth at 14-over 298-292=590 while No. 42 NC State stands seventh at 17-over 292-301=593.
// OTHER CINCINNATI SCORERS
Walsh registered a 2-over 70-76=146 and is tied for 11th place with Kentucky's Tyler McDaniel (75-71=146) entering Saturday. Walsh was tied with O'Kelley after the opening round thanks in part to five birdies. He recorded par scores on 15 of 18 holes in the afternoon, but a bogey on No. 12 and a double bogey on No. 13 prevented a lower score.
Sophomore Davis Baxter (Nolensville, Tenn./Ravenwood High School) finds himself in a 10-way tie for 25th place at 6-over 75-75=150 after two rounds. Junior Chad Howard (Dublin, Ohio/Jerome High School) is tied with nine other players for 35th position after a 7-over 78-73=151. Senior Emerson Newsome (Dacula, Ga./Mill Creek High School) is tied for 60th place at 12-over 76-80=156 while junior Blake Hamilton (Union, Ky./Ryle High School) is tied for 67th place at 9-over 78-81=159.