COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Men's Golf sits in the driver seat after a solid opening day at the Turning Stone Invitational, which featured two rounds. The Tigers lead the 18-team field after posting a 16-under par 560 through 36 holes. North Dakota State is currently in second place, trailing Mizzou by 12 strokes heading into Monday's final round.
Team captain Luigi Botta was on fire at the end of his first round, tallying six birdies on his final seven holes to seal a 6-under par 66, which matched the lowest 18-hole score of his career and set a new career-low in an opening round. Botta shot a 1-under 71 in round two and now sits 7–under par (137) and in second place individually for the tournament. He is searching for his first career tournament victory.
Sophomore Jamie Stewart, who boasted the second-lowest scoring average on the team last season as a freshman, carded identical 69s in rounds one and two. At 6-under par for the tournament, Stewart is tied for third place overall individually, just two strokes off the lead. The Scotland native is also seeking his first career tournament title.
Junior Rory Franssen is currently tied for ninth at even par, coupling a 2-over par opening round with a 2-under par second round. Sophomore Jack Parker is tied for 13th at 1-over par for the tournament and junior Ricky Sanders is tied for 18th at 2-over four the tournament after a strong 70 in the second round.
Senior Matt Echelmeier, competing individually, is tied for third overall after carding a pair of 3-under par rounds.
Mizzou tees off its final 18 holes at the Turning Stone on Monday at 8:30 a.m. ET. Head coach Mark Leroux is seeking his 48th career tournament title and a seventh consecutive Turning Stone Tiger Intercollegiate championship.
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