Merzbacher Ready for Chance at SEC Individual Title

April 16, 2016 | Men's Golf

April 16, 2016

Team Leaderboard | Player Leaderboard | Pairings

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga.-- Chad Merzbacher enters the final round within striking distance of a conference title after shooting an even par 70 in the second round of the SEC Championship at the Sea Island Golf Club Saturday.

Team Scores

1. Kentucky 277-289--566 (+6)
2. Georgia: 277-291--568 (+8)
3. Texas A&M: 287-283--570 (+10)
4. Arkansas: 288-283--571 (+11)
5. Auburn: 291-283--574 (+14)
6. Florida: 285-290--575 (+15)
7. Tennessee: 286-292--578 (+18)
T8. LSU: 294-286--580 (+20)
T8. Vanderbilt: 286-294--580 (+20)
10. Missouri: 289-292--581 (+21)
T11. South Carolina: 292-294--586 (+26)
T11. Alabama: 294-292--586 (+26)
13. Mississippi: 301-298--599 (+39)
14. Mississippi State: 304-298--602 (+42)

Individual Scores

1. Lee McCoy (Georgia): 68-70--138 (-2)
2. Matt Gilchrest (Auburn): 68-71--139 (-1)
T3. Chad Merzbacher (Tennessee): 70-70--140 (E)

Tennessee Scores

T3. Chad Merzbacher: 70-70--140 (E)
T15. Lorenzo Scalise: 72-71--141 (+1)
T54. Michael Nagy: 70-81--151 (+11)
T54. Jack Smith: 74-77--151 (+11)
T59. Nicklas Mattner: 78-74--152 (+12)

Merzbacher birdied four on the day, including a birdie on the par-4 18th to finish even for the second consecutive day, keeping his streak of nine straight par or better rounds alive. The Dublin, Ohio, native has been pressing this spring with four consecutive top 10 finishes. He credits his spring success to repetition.

"I've just been doing the same thing that I have been doing lately," Merzbacher said. "It's all about repeating the process for me. Figuring out a game plan for the course is like a puzzle for me. Once I figure out my plan, it's just about executing it."

The senior, who has climbed to No. 62 in the Golfstat individual ranks, sits in a group of six in a tie for third place at even par, two back of the lead. Georgia's Lee McCoy, Golfstat's No. 6 player nationally, leads the tournament at 2-under, while Auburn's Matt Gilchrest is in second at 1-under.

Tennessee finished the second round in seventh place after shooting a 12-over 292 and is 18-over for the tournament. Kentucky leads the championship at 6-over.

Sophomore Lorenzo Scalise birdied two during his 1-over 71 performance in the second round. The Italian climbed seven spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 15th and is 3-over heading into the final round.

Nicklas Mattner carded a 4-over 74, birdying one, in the second round. With the 74, the freshman is 12-over for the tournament and tied for 59th.

Junior Jack Smith shot a 7-over 77 in round two and heads into Sunday's round 11-over and in a tie for 54th alongside teammate Michael Nagy, who shot an 81 Saturday.

Things to Watch

Chad Merzbacher is looking for his seventh top 10 finish and eighth top 20 finish of the 2015-16 season.
Tennessee has won the SEC Championship three times in its history--1980, 1990 and 2007.

What's Next

Tennessee will tee off at 7:30 a.m. ET alongside Vanderbilt and LSU on the first hole. Player's tee times are below (all times ET).
7:30 a.m. -- Nicklas Mattner

7:40 a.m. -- Michael Nagy

7:50 a.m. -- Jack Smith

8 a.m. -- Lorenzo Scalise

8:10 a.m. -- Chad Merzbacher