Vols Second as Vandeventer Surges

Monday, February 27

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

All Day

University of Tennessee

John Hayt Collegiate Invitational

February 27, 2012 | Men's Golf

Feb. 27, 2012

Jay Vandeventer is making a run at the leaders, and Tennessee held on to a tie for second place Monday through two rounds of the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational.

Vandeventer fired a 2-under-par 70 at rainy Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., moving alone into fifth place at 2-under 142. The UT junior is just three strokes behind leader Julien Brun of TCU at 139.

Tennessee as a team needed one more stroke than its opening round, carding a second-day 296 that left the Vols in a three-way tie for second at 15-over 591. Central Florida posted its second straight 294 and holds a three-shot lead at 588 over Tennessee, Arkansas and North Texas.

Those squads have little breathing room, however, with TCU in fifth at 593, host North Florida sixth at 595 and LSU seventh at 596 -- just eight strokes behind UCF with 18 holes to play.

Joining Vandeventer on UT's Monday score sheet were Rick Lamb and Garrick Porteous with matching 75s, and Brandon Rodgers with a 76. Danny Keddie shot 77, as did Marshall Talkington, who is competing this week as an individual.

3 Under to Start

Vandeventer played the front nine in near perfection, birdieing the second, seventh and eighth holes for an opening 33. He posted eight pars on the back nine along with a single bogey at the par-4 17th hole to match his second-lowest round of the season. Only his 69-70 weekend finish at the Carpet Capital was as good or better this season, and 69 is his collegiate-low round set four times.

Lamb continues his steady play. The junior carded three birdies Monday to go with a bogey and a pair of doubles for a 37-38 scorecard. Lamb is tied for 23rd place at 5-over-par 149 and trying to post his best result in the UT colors. The transfer from Santa Clara finished 25th at both the Bank of Tennessee and San Diego events earlier this season.

Porteous also shot 75, one stroke better than Sunday's result. His 39-36 card included three birdies against six bogeys and left the senior in a tie for 35th place at 7-over 151.

Rodgers joined Lamb in the group at 149 after he closed the day with 11 consecutive pars. The Farragut sophomore birdied the par-4 second to help offset three bogeys and one double over his first seven holes. Rodgers finished with a 40-36 scorecard.

Keddie's 77 was his best score for the Vols since he placed third at the Cabo Collegiate back in October. The sophomore was 4 over par through five holes Monday but settled down to play his final 13 in just 1 over. Keddie's score sheet read 39-38 and he is tied for 76th place at 15-over 159.

Talkington also shot 77, flip-flopping Keddie's scorecard to shoot 38-39. The sophomore registered a birdie at the par-5 fourth hole to go with four bogeys and a double. Talkington is tied for 71st place at 14-over 158.

Tennessee is not paired with the leaders for Tuesday's final round. The Vols begin 45 minutes earlier at 8:45 a.m. on the No. 1 tee alongside TCU and North Florida. Tuesday's weather forecast is the best of the week, with only a 20 percent chance of rain and a high of 71 degrees. Winds of 5-10 mph are expected.

Live stats are available on Golfstat.com.

TEAM SCORES
1.	Central Florida	294-294--588 (+12)
T-2.	TENNESSEE	295-296--591 (+15)
T-2.	Arkansas	299-292--591 (+15)
T-2.	North Texas	298-293--591 (+15)
5.	TCU	300-293--593 (+17)
6.	North Florida	300-295--595 (+19)
7.	LSU	298-298--596 (+20)
T-8.	Jacksonville	300-297--597 (+21)
T-8.	Tulsa	304-293--597 (+21)
10.	Coastal Carolina	296-302--598 (+22)
11.	UAB	307-293--600 (+24)
12.	Mississippi	300-306--606 (+30)
13.	Georgia Southern	316-292--608 (+32)
14.	Furman	306-306--612 (+36)
15.	Mercer	309-308--617 (+41)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1.	Julien Brun, TCU	68-71--139 (-5)
T-2.	Johan de Beer, TCU	68-72--140 (-4)
T-2.	Sang Yi, LSU	67-73--140 (-4)
4.	Sebastian Soderberg, Coastal Carolina	68-73--141 (-3)
5.	Jay Vandeventer	72-70--142 (-2)
UT SCORES
5.	Jay Vandeventer	72-70--142 (-2)
T-23.	Rick Lamb	74-75--149 (+5)
T-23.	Brandon Rodgers	73-76--149 (+5)
T-35.	Garrick Porteous	76-75--151 (+7)
T-71.	Marshall Talkington *	81-77--158 (+14)
T-76.	Danny Keddie	82-77--159 (+15)
*Competing as individual.