INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The University of Evansville men's golf team put together two of its best rounds in recent memory today to take the 36-hole lead in the 54-hole Butler Fall Invitational at Eagle Creek Golf Course.
Coach Jim Hamilton's Purple Aces have a 17-stroke lead over second place Butler and IUPUI going into Tuesday's final round, thanks to four rounds in the 60s on Monday. Junior Michael Sainz is the tournament leader after shooting 66 in both rounds for 10-under-par 132. Those were the two lowest rounds in Sainz's career, and 66 is tied for the second lowest round by an Evansville golfer since 1990. Right behind in second is teammate Parker Hensley, who shot 71 and 67 for a 138 total. Also breaking 70 was Griffin Wood, who is fifth in the field of 66 after shooting 72 and 69 for 141.
The Aces led by two strokes after shooting 283 in Monday's morning round, then shot 275 in round two to extend their lead to 17 shots over the host Bulldogs. UE has won the Butler Invitational twice previously, in 1994 and 2008. The Aces' most recent tournament championship came last March in the Ball State Cardinal Collegiate at Sultan's Run Golf Course in Jasper. Sainz was also UE's leader in that tournament, finishing fourth in a field of 84.
"It was fun watching them today," Hamilton said. "Our guys played very well, but it didn't really surprise me. We have a good group, a talented group. Now we have to go out and take care of business on Tuesday."
BUTLER INVITATIONAL (through 36 of 54 holes): 1. Evansville 558; T2. Butler, IUPUI 575; 4. Valparaiso 590; T5. UW Green Bay, Cornerstone 591; 7. Indiana Wesleyan 594; 8. Eastern Illinois 595; 9. IUPUI-B 607; 10. DePauw 618; 11. Chicago State 642.
