Tuesday, April 18, 2006

ORLANDO, Fla. - Jacksonville surged to the lead of the 2006 Atlantic Sun Championship with an impressive second round performance at the Eagle Creek Golf Club.

Teammates Duncan Stewart and Russel Knox each carded the lowest second round scores of the day to lead the Dolphins' charge. The duo carded five-under par 68's to match the low round of the championship as well. Jamie Kennedy joins the pair to put three JU players among the top-15 individuals. Jacksonville's team total of 282 is the best 18-hole score of the tournament, helping the Dolphins carry a two-stroke advantage into the final round. Ninth-ranked ETSU posted three more scores under par, but could not hold off a hot JU team on day two, falling to second in the team standings. UNF continues to lurk among the top three, just three strokes off the lead.

After surrendering 20 sub-par rounds in the first round, Eagle Creek GC toughened up, allowing only 15 totals below the par 73.Michael Martin of Belmont joined Stewart and Knox in the sub-70 club, firing a four-under par 69 which was the low score until the final two groups reached the clubhouse. Beyond the top-3, the remainder of the field changed little with only Gardner-Webb passing Stetson.

Knox carded a round-best five birdies while UNF's Michael Giammaresi continues to lead the championship with 11 birdies total. Gardner-Webb's Casey Flattery has registered a tournament-best 28 pars over 36 holes.

Final round play will commence tomorrow at 7:40 am with the Lou McCullough Trophy and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Regional hanging in the balance.

The 11-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Florida Atlantic, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, North Florida and Stetson.

OVERALL TEAM LEADERBOARD
1. Jacksonville - 286-282 - 568 (-16)
2. ETSU - 283-287 - 570 (-14)
3. UNF - 285-286 - 571 (-13)
4. Campbell- 289-289 - 578 (-6)
5. Mercer - 289-294 - 583 (-1)
6. Belmont - 291-295 - 586 (+2)
7. Florida Atlantic - 297-295 - 592 (+8)
8. Gardner-Webb - 300-305 - 605 (+21)
9. Stetson - 299-314 - 613 (+29)
10. Lipscomb - 308-308 - 616 (+32)

OVERALL INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
T1. Duncan Stewart, JU - 70-68 - 138 (-8)
T1. Russel Knox, JU - 70-68 - 138 (-8)
3. Jordan Findlay, ETSU - 69-70 - 139 (-7)
4. Rhys Davies, ETSU - 69-72 - 141 (-5)
T5. Jeff Dennis, UNF - 69-73 - 140 (-4)
T5. Matt McIntyre, Campbell - 71-71 - 142 (-4)
T5. Michael O'Neal, UNF - 71-71 - 142 (-4)
T5. Michael Martin, Belmont - 73-69 - 142 (-4)
T9. Gareth Shaw, ETSU - 70-73 - 143 (-3)
T9. Taylor Lewis, Lipscomb - 68-75 - 143 (-3)
T9. Michael Giammaresi, UNF - 73-70 - 143 (-3)