MONROE, N.C. - - Tyler Cleaves is tied for fifth after two rounds at the 22nd Annual J. Ralph Hargett Memorial Invitational, leading the Wilmington University golf team to sit in ninth place on Monday at the Rolling Hills Country Club.
The Wildcats shot rounds of 304 and 306 to finish with a 610 (-34) and in ninth place with one round to play. Queens (N.C.) leads the tournament by eight strokes after rounds of 285 and 291 for a 576 (E). Super Region foes Davis & Elkins sit in fifth with a 588 (+12) and St. Thomas Aquinas sit in eighth with a 295 (+19).
In the first round, Cleaves started on the par-4 12th and quickly got to one-under with a birdie on the par-5 13th. He got back to even with a birdie on the par-4 first and then again got to even with a birdie on the par-4 eighth. He finished his round with a birdie on the par-4 10th and then hit par on the par-3 11th to close out his round with a 71 (-1). He hit back-to-back birdies on 16 and 17 in round two and then got back to one under with a birdie on the par-4 seventh. But bogeys on nine and 11 had him finish at 73 (+1) and even for the tournament. Cleaves is tied for fourth in the tournament on par-4 scoring, shooting even par in the two rounds.
Matthew Pulgini is tied for 41st after two rounds of play, shooting rounds of 75 and 78 for a 153 (+9). He had four birdies in the first round and two more in the second, but was harmed by 11 bogeys and two doubles on the day.
Pablo Quintero is tied for 47th after the first two rounds, shooting identical rounds of 78-78 for a 156 (+12). He had the team's lone eagle on the day, sinking the eagle putt on the par-5 17th in round two. Quintero is tied for 6th in the tournament on par-5 scoring, shooting three-under par in the two rounds.
Nathan Potts improved his second round by three strokes, finishing in a tie for 51st with rounds of 80-77 for a 157 (+13). Potts finished each round with a birdie on the par-4 14th. He is tied for 12th in the tournament on par-3 scoring, finishing +1 in the two rounds.
Ollie Smith of Queens (N.C.) leads the tournament with rounds of 69-71 for a 140 (-4). Coker's Killian Ryan is second with rounds of 70-71 for a 141 (-3).
The tournament concludes with the third round on Tuesday at the Rollings Hills Country Club.