Men’s golf fires 8-under 280 in middle round of Dorado Beach Collegiate

DORADO BEACH, Puerto Rico –No. 2 Auburn men's golf sits sixth in the team standings following a 280 (-8) showing in Monday's middle round of competition at the Dorado Beach Collegiate.
 
With a five-stroke improvement from the previous round, the Tigers hold strong at 565 (-11) heading into Tuesday's finale, nine shots out of third place and 21 back from first.
 
"Slight improvement from yesterday, but there's still plenty of room for growth," Auburn head coach Nick Clinard said. "Our wedge play was pretty weak overall, so that's definitely one area we'll be challenging the guys to step up in tomorrow. Championship teams are able to be at their best when it matters most, so that ability to finish strong is going to be something we're expecting out of this group for the final round."
 
On the day, all seven of the Tigers' performers shot even par or better with three carding a 4-under 68. Freshman Reed Lotter, sophomore Brendan Valdes and junior J.M. Butler all paved the way in the middle 18 and are positioned inside the top-15 player scores through 36 holes.
 
All three men recorded five birdies with Butler also making his team-leading third eagle of the year to conclude the front nine.
 
"We are a bit rusty coming off the long break," Butler said. "There are plenty of birdies to be made, and we are excited for the opportunity tomorrow brings."
 
After a duplicate performance from Sunday's opener, Lotter carries the Tiger torch for overall score (136/-8) and is three shots out of the lead heading into the final round. Since making his collegiate debut a week ago at The Prestige Individual, the rookie from Savannah, Georgia has delivered four of five rounds in the 60s.
 
"Today was another really good ball striking day for me," Lotter said. "I like the way I am playing right now; I just need some more putts to fall. I'm ready to get after it tomorrow and chase down the leaders!"
 
As Butler and Lotter are both predetermined individual golfers for the week, Valdes' 68 is the only one counted toward the team's total.
 
Valdes began his day on 5 by making a bogey, however, it would be the lone bogey of the day on his scorecard as he fought back to shoot 34 on both the front and back nine. In just a year and a half representing the Orange & Blue, nearly half of his career rounds have come in the 60s with 17 total sub-70 performances already to his credit.
 
Through 36, Valdes sits just one shot behind Lotter, four back from the lead, in a tie for eighth place.
 
Next in line were senior Alex Vogelsong and junior Carson Bacha as the pair each carded 70s (-2) on Monday. Bacha's day came via 14 pars, three birdies and a single bogey whereas Vogelsong fought off three bogeys with three birdies and an eagle on 6.
 
Junior Ryan Eshleman and sophomore Evan Vo concluded the lineup's scorers for the day by shooting even par (72).
 
In Tuesday's final 18 holes of competition, Auburn will be paired with Virginia, Boston College and Ball State, beginning play in a shotgun start at 7:15 a.m. CT.