HPU Men’s Golf ties record in round two at Phoenix Invitational

• Freshman Brendan MacDougall leads the Panthers after two rounds with a -1 mark after 36 holes.
• In his first event of the year, junior Emile Menard is +1 on the day and fired a team-best 68 in the second round.
• High Point shot -5 (279) in the second round to match the program’s best against-par round in the Division I era.

BURLINGTON, N.C. – The High Point University men’s golf team improved 16 strokes from the first round to the second round on Monday at the Phoenix Invitational at the Alamance Country Club.

As a team, High Point is in a tie for 12th, but carded a 279 (-5) in the second round, which tied the program’s best against-par score in its Division I era. For the third straight event, freshman Brendan MacDougall is leading the way for the Panthers and is in a tie for 20th in the event.

“Well that was one of the most interesting team meals I’ve ever seen,” head coach Brady Gregor said. “It’s a weird feeling being upset after tying a school record, but that’s the way this team is. They knew we had it at nine-under at one point in the second round, but we let it slip away late.”

The Purple & White opened the day with a 297 (+13), but Gregor said the team responded the way he expected they would.

“I knew after a tough round to start the day that there was no reason to sound the alarms,” Gregor continued. ” Yes, we weren’t where we wanted to be, but round two tells you a lot about this team. After sitting in last place following one round yet bouncing back and tying a school record at five-under shows the firepower this team has. I’m extremely proud of them and we are looking for another solid round tomorrow as we look to climb up the leaderboard.”

Despite shooting +4 in his first action of the season, junior Emile Menard bounced back with a team-best 68 (-3) in a second round highlighted by an eagle. His 68 ties his low mark for his career and moved Menard into a tie for 31st (75, 68, +1).

MacDougall was the only Panther at even par after one round and improved by one stroke in the second round to tie for 20th overall (71, 70, -1). The freshman was consistent notching 25 pars (t-12th) on the day.

Joining Menard in a tie for 31st overall, freshman Alec Weary bettered his score by three strokes in the second round. Weary opened with a 73 (+2) before firing four birdies en route to a -1 (70) on the second trip around the course.

Rounding out the day for High Point was sophomore Christian Casingal and freshman RJ Bartolomucci. Both saw seven-shot improvements as Casingal sits in a tie for 67th (78, 71, +7) and Bartolomucci is tied for 72nd (79, 72, +9).

The Panthers will be back out on the course tomorrow for the third round of the Phoenix Invitational.