Bulldogs slip to fourth after second round

PLYMOUTH, Ind. – Mississippi Gulf Coast's Phillip Hickam shot even par during a demanding second round at the NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Tournament and finds himself tied for second.

The rest of Bulldogs struggled on Day 2 at Swan Lake Resort's Black Course, slipping to fourth place after a 17-over 305. They are at 20-over for the tournament, 11 shots back of Kirkwood in third. Tyler, at 3-under, has a one-shot lead over defending champion South Mountain.

"The course was a lot tougher today, which is hard to believe because the first round was hard," said Hickam, who finished second at last year's national tournament. "It seemed like there were a lot of pins on slopes today."

Grant Motter and Colin Troxler shot 76s, with Motter at 5-over for the tournament and tied for 21^st. Troxler is at 7-over and in a tie for 34^th.

George Kawell is at 11-over after an 83, and Jonathon Newman shot 81 and is at 14-over.

""We struggled big time today," Gulf Coast coach Tommy Snell said. "We just never could get it going. The last hole was typical of our day."

Motter was on the green at the par-5 in two, but a tough putt turned into 3 for par. Hickam was just off the green chipping for birdie and finished with bogey after playing the three prior holes at 3-under. He made eagle on No. 15.

Gulf Coast's five golfers played the par-5 hole at 1-under Tuesday in the first round, but were two-over on Day 2.

"We just have to work harder," Snell said after the round. "They're headed to the range and we're going to hit a few balls. That's why it's a 72-hole tournament."

Tyler's Marco Maldonado shot 1-over Wednesday, but still has a six-shot lead on six players, including Hickam.

The tournament resumes Thursday

"Our goal here always is to win a national tournament, but our goal really was to play well and up to our potential," Snell said. "Wherever that puts us, as long as we give it our best. We want to finish as high as we can, but if fourth place is where that is, we'll be happy."

Complete second-round results: http://www.mccaa.org/stats/2015-16/Mens%20Golf/D2Nationals/xlive.htm

Tournament homepage: http://www.mccaa.org/f/17/3/Golf/2016_NJCAA_Division_II_Golf_National.php