Strong Second Round Lands Cajuns In Fifth After First Day Of Sam Hall Intercollegiate

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – After getting off to a slow start in the opening round, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns golf team posted one of only two rounds under par in the second round to end the first day of the Sam Hall Intercollegiate on Monday in fifth place at 2-over par (570). The event is hosted at the par-71, 6,902-yard Hattiesburg Country Club.

"Very pleased with the grit and determination that the team showed to bounce back," head coach Theo Sliman said. "Through nine holes of the day we were in dead last, and they fought hard as a collective group to battle back and put us in a good position going into the final round. The guys showed heart and determination and it really impressed me."

Louisiana notched a score of 6-over (290) in the first round, but then moved up five spots on the leaderboard with a round of 4-under (280) in the afternoon.

The Cajuns go into the final round 13 strokes back of ULM for the tournament lead. The Warhawks used a second round score of 10-under (274) in to climb to the top of the leaderboard with a two-round score of 11-under (557). Host Southern Miss (-3, 565), WKU (-1, 567), Rice (+1, 569) make up the rest of the top 5 teams.

Newcomer Aron Juliusson has made an immediate impact for the Ragin' Cajuns finishing the day in second place at 5-under (137). Juliusson carded two rounds in the 60s with just one blemish in the first round and registered eight birdies through 36 holes. The freshman posted birdies in his final three holes of the morning round to secure a 69 (-2) before following that up with a 68 (-3) in the second round.

Juliusson is four strokes back of ULM's Andoni Etchenique for the individual lead. Etchenique carded the lowest round of the tournament in the second round as he used a 65 (-6) to move into the top spot on the leaderboard.

"Both of our freshmen came out and had a great showing in their first action," Sliman noted. "I was really impressed with the heart and composure that Aron and Jack (Tolson) showed in the first two rounds. I knew coming in that both of these guys were very talented, and we are seeing those talents carry over to the collegiate level right away."

Tolson ended the day in a tie for 13th place at even par (142). A native of Lafayette, La., Tolson recorded a round of 1-under par (70) in the first round tallying two birdies while playing bogie free golf in his final six holes of the morning.

Sophomore Triston Elston is one stroke back of Tolson in a tie for 17th at 1-over (143), while both Fernando Cruz Valle and Ragnar Gardarsson are tied for 38th at 5-over (147). Ryan Desormeaux rounded out the scoring for the Ragin' Cajuns in a tie for 68th at 9-over (151).

"Obviously with good teams it takes a collective group effort, but we also need to see that leadership from the upperclassmen," Sliman said. "I'm ready to see those seniors step up and lead this team in the final round."

Louisiana is paired Rice and Mississippi State in the final round and will tee off of hole one starting at 8:45 a.m. Live scoring is available on Golfstat.com.

For updates and info on Ragin' Cajuns golf, follow the squad on twitter @Cajungolf or check RaginCajuns.com.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Strong Second Round Lands Cajuns In Fifth After First Day Of Sam Hall Intercollegiate

Players Mentioned

Fernando Cruz Valle

Ryan Desormeaux

Triston Elston

Ragnar Gardarsson

Aron Juliusson

Footer

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics