TEXARKANA, Ark. — The UTSA men's golf team is in first place behind Sean Meehan and Collin Clark after the opening day of the Air Force Reserve Conference USA Championship, which teed off Monday at Texarkana Country Club (par 72/6,935 yards).
The Roadrunners are sitting at 1-under-par 575 after the first two rounds and they have a four-shot lead ahead of second-place WKU (579) entering Tuesday's final round. UAB is in third (580) and Middle Tennessee is fourth (581) in a tight team race that has the top seven teams separated by just 10 strokes. The top four teams will advance to the match play semifinal round.
UTSA opened the event with a 4-over 292 on Monday morning before firing a 5-under 283 on the strength of three red numbers in the afternoon, which marked the low round of the day in the 13-team field.
Meanwhile, Meehan is in second place and Clark stands third with 18 holes left in the individual stroke-play competition.
Meehan stormed out of the gates with a 3-under 69 in an opening round that featured five birdies, including three straight on Nos. 8-10. The senior from San Antonio posted a 71 in the afternoon behind four more birdies and his 4-under 140 is just a pair of shots off the pace of 6-under 138 set by Rice's Jake Benson.
Clark is just one stroke behind his teammate and in sole possession of third place at 3-under 141. The junior from Mansfield, Texas, carded a 72 in the morning before matching Meehan with the team's low scorecard in the afternoon. His second-round 69 was buoyed by eight birdies, including two different stretches of three in a row.
Michael Rome is tied for 15th at 1-over 145. The sophomore from Austin bounced back from a 75 in the morning with a 2-under 70 that was highlighted by five birdies, four as part of a 34 on the back nine.
Christian Fanfelle is tied for 32nd at 5-over 149. The freshman from San Antonio registered a 73 behind four birdies in the afternoon after opening with a 76.
Chad Sewell rounds out the UTSA lineup in a tie for 36th at 6-over 150. The sophomore from Conroe, Texas, had three birdies in a 76 for the opening 18 holes before writing down one more during a 76 in the afternoon.
The final round is scheduled to tee off at 8 a.m. Tuesday. UTSA will get underway beginning at 9:20 a.m. off of No. 1.
