TEXARKANA, Ark. — Patrick Kahanek moved into the UTSA lineup on Tuesday and responded with the team's best score of the week on the second day of the Conference USA Championship at Texarkana Country Club (par 72/6,969 yards).
Inserted into the lineup following Monday's first round, Kahanek fired a 1-under-par 71 to pace the Roadrunners in the second round. UTSA sits in eighth place through 36 holes but is only nine shots out of the top four teams, who will advance to Thursday's match play following the final 18 holes on Wednesday.
Starting on No. 1, Kahanek birdied the first two holes, writing down a three on the 400-yard first and a four on the 501-yard second. The San Antonio native added a birdie on the 525-yard, par-5 seventh and closed out a bogey-free 33 on the front with a pair of pars. He also circled his number on the par-3 12th to get to 4-under before settling for three bogeys down the stretch while matching his season-low score.
Meanwhile, Hunter Bott leads all Roadrunners at 4-over 148, good for a share of 17th place. The senior from Montgomery, Texas, turned in his second straight 2-over 74 highlighted by a birdie on the 397-yard, par-4 fifth hole. He is only two shots out of a tie for fourth and five strokes off the pace of 1-under set by Owen Stamper of Middle Tennessee.
Christian Fanfelle and Jack Wehman are part of a three-way deadlock for 34th at 8-over 152. Fanfelle, a super senior from San Antonio, followed his opening-round 75 with a 77 that featured a birdie on No. 7. Wehman, a sophomore out of Austin Vandegrift High School, led UTSA with a 73 on Monday before posting a 79 today that included birdies on the second and 12th holes.
David Harrison is one shot back of that duo in a tie for 37th at 9-over 153. The senior from Trophy Club, Texas, registered four birdies as part of a 77 after opening with a 76 yesterday.
Middle Tennessee leads the team race at 4-over 580 (293-287), followed by a tie for second at 7-over par between Charlotte and Louisiana Tech. UAB is in fourth (+12), with North Texas (+13), Florida Atlantic (+17) and Rice (+18) just ahead of UTSA in the 10-team field.
The final round is scheduled for Wednesday and UTSA will be paired with Rice with tee times beginning at 8:08 a.m. off No. 10.
-UTSA-
