May 20, 2011
ERIE, Colo. -- Behind Blayne Barber's 5-under 67, the 11th-ranked Auburn men's golf team shot a 1-under 287 for a 9-under 567 total and is in second after the second round of the NCAA Colorado Regional at the 7753-yard Colorado National Golf Club on Friday. Five teams are within six shots of each other after enduring a 90 minute weather delay on the back nine.
No. 1 Oklahoma State extended its lead with a 13-under 275 for a 25-under 551. Auburn is in second, three shots ahead of No. 12 Georgia (276-570) and No. 25 Clemson (281-570). TCU is right on the cutline in fifth at 282-571, one shot ahead of No. 24 Arizona State (290-572) and Colorado State (289-572).
The top five teams after Saturday's final round advance to the NCAA Championship at Karsten Creek in Stillwater, Okla., from June 1-5.
"It is going to be a dogfight, and we are going to be in the final pairing," said Auburn head coach Nick Clinard. "We've been in the final pairing all year. That's what prepares you for NCAA Regionals. We just didn't putt good today. We struggled with the putter the whole round and didn't make enough putts. If we made six to seven putts, then we may have a chance to win the golf tournament. Hopefully, we will make them tomorrow after getting a good night's sleep and go out and play our best."
Barber, whose 67 was his 13th round in the 60s this season tying the Auburn school record set by Patton Kizzire in 2006-07, is tied for sixth overall at 5-under 139. He is one shot behind Tiger freshman Niclas Carlsson, who followed his first round 67 with a 1-under 71 for a 6-under 138 and is tied for fourth.
"That was probably one of the best rounds of golf that I have played in a while," said Barber who birdied his final two holes to go along with three birdies on the front nine of his bogey-free round. "I hit every shot solid and didn't put myself in bad positions and finally got some putts to go in. It was a good feeling. I needed that. It was definitely good momentum going forward."
Michael Hebert had a 74-145 and is tied for 32nd while Kyle Kopsick is tied for 39th at 76-146 and Dominic Bozzelli is tied for 56th at 75-149.
"There is no doubt that Blayne is a big-time player," said Clinard. "He hit it in the right spots. He was very much in control of his game emotionally and played very well."
Carlsson is one shot behind a trio tied for the individual lead at 7-under including Oklahoma State's Sean Einhaus (71-137) and Kevin Tway (65-137) and Georgia's T.J. Mitchell (68-137). Oklahoma State's Peter Uihlein (68-138) is tied with Carlsson, one shot ahead of Barber, who is two strokes behind the leaders.
Chattanooga (288-579) and Northwestern (286-579) are tied for eighth followed by San Jose State (287-582), New Mexico State (287-582), Denver (289-583) and North Florida (291-598).
Auburn is paired with Oklahoma State and Georgia in Saturday's final round and goes off the No. 1 tee beginning at 9:45 am Central. Live-scoring of the NCAA Regionals can be followed at www.golfstat.com.