And the rains came...Hogs in 7th

TOLEDO, Ohio-Rain forced a four-and-a-half hour delay during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Championship at the Inverness Club on Wednesday. Only 15 of the 30 teams were able to finish, leaving the second round of the tournament incomplete. Tentatively, the afternoon final groups will close out nine holes before dark. The second round will resume in the morning with a projected start time of 6:45. The third round will commence closer to 10:00 AM. Fourth ranked Oklahoma State was one of the teams able to finish despite inclement weather shooting four strokes under in the second round. The Cowboys still top the team leader board with an even-par 568(288-280). Falling five strokes behind in second place the No. 1 ranked Georgia, went 1-over in the second round to end at 5-over 573(288-285).Texas A&M ended in third place after going an impressive 8-under score in the second day for a 6-over 574(298-276). Arizona State followed by a stroke to produce a 7-over 575(294-281). No. 6 ranked Washington finished the 18 holes two strokes over for an 11-over 579(293-286).At press-time, 9th ranked Arkansas had improved its position from the previous day to 7th place after a 1-under second round for a 12-over 580(297-283). “The entire team is playing well together, and that is a good thing. The boys are feeling good about their performance here this week,” head coach Brad McMakin stated. “Their confidence is up going into the final round of stroke play.”Michigan also appeared on the leader board ahead of Arkansas at a two round 6-over score thru holes 8-10. Of the teams finished, Tennessee is the Razorbacks’ closest follower at a 15-over 583(294-289).Georgia sophomore Russell Henley (71-67) and N.C. State sophomore Matt Hill (69-69) share the individual lead of players who have completed their rounds at four-under par 138.Freshman Ethan Tracy led Arkansas in Day 2 with a 3-under 68. He adds that to a score of 76 in the first round to card a 2-over 144 for both rounds. Currently he stands at a tie for 25th place.“Ethan has played really well for us, and David and Andrew were able to both birdie the last hole of the day,” McMakin said. “Tomorrow, our ultimate goal is to get off to a good start, make some putts, and end in the top 8.”Andrew Landry follows Tracy by a stroke with a 3-over 145(75-70), tying for 36th. David Lingmerth was only a stroke off par in the second round to end with a 5-over 147(75-72) and ending in a tie at 54th. Jamie Marshall tied at 74th with a 7-over 149(71-78). Jason Cuthbertson was 2-over par in the second day for an 8-over 150(77-73).“We are playing well, and have a good chance of making it to match play. Hopefully we will go out tomorrow, and continue what we have been doing and have a nice finish.”The Top 8 will advance the following day into match play. “Anything can happen in match play, and we are hoping to get that chance.” McMakin pointed out.Follow the Razorbacks final round of stroke play in the 2009 season through live scoring available at Golfstat.com. Logon to ArkansasRazorbacks.com for more coverage of all things Arkansas.

Team Results
1. Oklahoma State 288-280=568 (E); 2. Georgia 288-285=573 (+5); T3. Michigan 296-DNF (+6); T3. Texas A&M 298-276=574 (+6); 5. Arizona State 294-281=575 (+7); 6. Washington 293-286=579 (+11); 7. Arkansas 297-283=580 (+12); 8. Duke 297-DNF (+14); T9. UCF 300-DNF (+15); T9. Tennessee 294-289=583 (+15); T11. San Diego 293-DNF (+16); T11. TCU 299-DNF (+16); T13. Alabama 298-288=586 (+18); T13. Georgia Tech 301-285=586 (+18); T13. Southern Cal 305-281=586 (+18); 16. Ohio State 294-DNF (+19); 17. Chattanooga 292-DNF (+20); T18. Northwestern 298-DNF (+21); T18. Iowa 301-DNF (+21); 20. Illinois 299-291=590 (+22); 21. South Carolina 305-286=591 (+23); 22. Texas Tech 303-DNF (+24); 23. Oregon 306-DNF (+27); T24. Virginia 306-DNF (+29); T24. Florida 310-287=597 (+29); 26. Wake Forest 302-DNF (+30); 27. UCLA 306-295=601 (+33); 28. Stanford 305-298=603 (+35); T29. Arizona 310-DNF (+38); T29. Texas 308-DNF (+38)Top 5 Individuals
1. Alex Ching 70-DNF (-6/thru 11); T2. Russell Henley (Georgia) 71-67=138 (-4); T2. Matt Hill (N.C. State) 69-69=138 (-4); T2. Alexander Sitompul (Michigan) 72-DNF (-4/thru 10); 5. Bronson Burgoon (Texas A&M) 72-67=139 (-3);Quotes:Oklahoma State Head Coach Mike McGraw(Comments on team’s overall play)“I think our team is playing pretty well. If you would have told me we would be in this position two days ago, I would be happy with it.”(Comments on team’s performance over the last month)We are playing better. I kept on telling them that we are better than this and we would play good in some tournaments, but I thought we are better than what we showed. We would have two guys playing well, two guys playing average and one guy not so well. But they have been building. I was never so shortsighted on the progress they were making. “
Texas A&M Head Coach J.T. Higgins“We have been playing great golf the last month. The guys are loose and relaxed. I thought we played good yesterday, but the scores weren’t quite there. It was pretty impressive today though, and our guys were fantastic. “(on the difference between yesterday and today)
“I think yesterday they felt like they left something out there. They saw what could be done and then it rained and they knew it was going to be a little more receptive. We could probably be a little more aggressive with their approach shots. I felt like they were putting good. They hit a lot of great shots today. I think our short game was unbelievable as well. I know Bronson (Burgoon) made some great up and downs and Andrea (Pavan) was either 9 for 11 or 10 for 12 on up and downs. Andrea didn’t hit the ball very well, but still managed to keep going.”(on the rain delay)
“It worked to our advantage. When we went back out there was no wind at all. It was still as can be. Balls were stopping in the fairway, and they weren’t running through. It ended up being a blessing. You never know how those are going to turn out, but I’m really happy we took advantage of it.”

Georgia Head Coach Chris Haack“We had a shaky start. Right at the turn , we got birdies in on us and we we’re playing pretty good. We hit a wall when we got back to the back side, but when we came out of the rain delay we played pretty well. The whole goal this week is to put us into the position to win the 54 holes and if that happens that will take care of the eight seedings as well. We will go out tomorrow and try to play to win.”“I knew were in a pretty good shape when play was stopped. We were able to pick up real quick when we came back out. The longer you sit around, you get stiff. They responded when they came out right out of the gate. We capped it off with Brian Harman’s birdie on the last hole, and it was nice way to finish the day.”(on Russell Henley) 
“It doesn’t surprise me Russell is saying I am playing for the team first. That is the kind of character he has. It would be nice to see the team to a good start where he doesn’t need to worry about other team stuff. He then can give focus and full attention to the individual stuff. Knowing him, he won’t have that on his mind. He is going to play good solid golf because that is his goal this week. He will hit good targets and make good swings.”(on the course) 
“It (Inverness) is a heckuva challenge. You have to hit all your shots and sometimes you hit shots you don’t even dream about hitting because of some peculiar spots. It’s a great championship golf course.”N.C. State sophomore Matt Hill“I don’t have to worry about my team at all, so there may be a little less pressure. At the same time when I’m out there I just try to worry about myself.”“I’m going to go out there and trying to do what I’ve been doing. I want to keep it in the fairway, hit greens, and hopefully a few puts go in.”“The conditions were a little bit easier and you can make more birdies, especially on holes like 3 and 6 which were playing easier. After the rain delay there was hardly any wind so I made a few key shots on the fairway because there was a little bit of a crosswind on quite a few holes yesterday that made it tougher on the fairway.”Georgia sophomore Russell Henley(on where he was when play was stopped)
“I was on seven green on about eight putter for birdie. I made it when I came back after the four-hour wait.(on being four-under)
“My score counts as an individual, but this is a team tournament. I’m trying to keep it simple. I’m not trying to focus on the individual side. We have two days of match play afterwards. Right now I’m just concentrating on doing what I’m doing. I just want to go out there and try to help the team like what I have been doing the last two days.”I really never thought about winning the individual. I haven’t really processed it yet. I am going one shot at a time. The more you focus on winning when you have a whole round to play, the more pressure it puts on you. I’m just going to concentrate on my routine and try to pick good targets. There’s a lot of golf to play with a lot of good players having a chance to win.”Texas A&M senior Bronson Burgoon“It’s hard coming back three hours later because you’re on a roll and it’s like starting a new round. You have to approach it like that, and our team did a great job doing it.”(on starting up after the rain delay)
“I just started out trying to make as many pars as I could and then if a birdie came then great. My main focus was the middle of the greens and fairways, especially. That’s the key to this golf course, if you hit the fairways you are going to score ok because the greens are soft. I felt like if I hit the fairways I had a really good shot at scoring well.”Oklahoma State freshman Morgan Hoffman(Comments on today’s performance (two eagles and two double bogeys)“Today was a lot better than yesterday, but I had a bit of a rough finish (double bogey on 12 and 17). Overall, I thought I hit the ball well all day. This was a good confidence builder. I feel good heading into tomorrow. I played well all day, but I had two bad swings.”(Comments on the delay)The delay really didn’t bother me. Our team sat around and told stories about the year. I think I cried laughing about four times. It was a good time.”(Comments on the two eagles)“On No. 8, I hit my drive to the bottom of the fairway and I had about 190 yards in. I hit a five iron in and put it about seven feet above the flag and made the putt.”“On No. 13, I had about 195 yards remaining on my second shot in and I hit a six-iron to one foot from the cup. “Arizona State sophomore Scott Pinckney“The big key for our team was focusing on the front nine. Holes No. 3 through 7 are tough and you just have to get through them. I was striking the ball well today and I just went at the flag. My putter started working well on my last nine holes.”“It was like a different golf course today and conditions were great because it wasn’t as windy. The wind was going in different directions in the first round.”I’ve come to a good place mentally with my short game. You’ve got to score. I’ve always been a good ball striker, getting the ball into the hole around the greens.”(on what he did during the delay)“I actually slept for quite a while. You just walk around trying to burn time.”(Comments on possible individual title)“I think I have a shot at it, but I’m trying not to get too nervous. I played here in the Preview so I know the golf course. If I come out and play my game I think I have a good shot. I am really a good ball striker. If I putt well tomorrow, I’m going to win it. I may have shot 67 today but I shot even on the front side with missing four good birdie chances and an eagle.”