July 21, 2017
OPELIKA, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Former Auburn men's golfers Matt Gilchrest, Patton Kizzire and Blayne Barber have made the weekend cut at the Barbasol Championship held at the Grand National Lakes Course in Opelika.
Gilchrest, a recent graduate and two-time All-SEC selection, leads the Auburn contingent at 4-under 69-69-136 where he is part of a nine-way tie for 48th. The Southlake, Texas, product had five birdies on Nos. 5, 6 and 8 on the front and 10 and 13 on the back on Friday.
"It was lot of fun," Gilchrest said. "It was really hot, but we did a good job and I made it to the weekend."
Kizzire, the 2007 SEC Champion, is a stroke back tied for 57th at 3-under 70-69-139. After a double bogey on the par-4 14th, the Tuscaloosa native responded with a pair of birdies on the back on Nos. 15 and 16 to make the turn at even-par. He closed out the front nine with birdies on three of the last six holes including the par-4 ninth to close out the round.
"I was watching a little bit and knew I needed to make some birdies," Kizzire said of his birdie on No. 9. "I think that one might have gotten me into the weekend, which is nice. I've been here once and didn't play the weekend. I'll be excited to see what I can do this weekend."
Barber, an All-American and member of the 2011 and 2012 Arnold Palmer Cup USA teams at Auburn, is one of 16 golfers tied for 68th just making the 2-under cut line.
Former All-American Dominic Bozzelli and current Auburn junior Trace Crowe missed the cut. Crowe, playing in his first PGA Tour event, bounced back from an opening round 79 with an even-par 71 to finish out the event on a high note.
"I missed a ton of putts out there," Crowe said. "I could have shot easily 68 or better, but to go out there and shoot even par today is not a bad way to leave. I could have gone out there and shot worse, but I didn't, so it was better."
Tee times for Saturday's third round:
7:44 am No. 1 Rory Sabbatini Blayne Barber
9:05 am No. 1 Daniel Summerhays Patton Kizzire
9:59 am No. 1 Ken Duke Matt Gilchrest