Columbus, Ga. – The title defense has begun for Lynn University’s top-ranked men’s golf team as the Fighting Knights are in second place after 36-holes at the Cougar Invitational presented by AFLAC. Carlos Bustos is locked in a six-way tie for second and Toto Gana is a shot back in eighth place.
INSIDE THE TOURNAMENT:
Standing: 2nd of 17 teams
Location: Country Club of Columbus | Columbus, Ga.
Par/Yardage: 71/6,515
History at Event: Fifth appearance (Sixth in 2018; Best finish: T-2nd in 2011)
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Lynn stayed consistent over the first two rounds, posting consecutive scores of 283. The squads 566 is four shots back of the leader, Florida Southern (562). Valdosta State and Saint Leo (567) are hot on the Blue and White heels with Georgia Southwestern and host Columbus State (568) tied for fifth.
- Bustos was one-under par through the first 18 holes and turned it on in the afternoon, knocking down four birdies with one bogey for a three-under 68. He is four-under for the tournament, three shots back of Zach Zediker of Delta State.
- Gana began the 2019 season scorching hot with a five-under par 66, highlighted by seven birdies. A triple bogey on his second hole of the second round but a damper on the afternoon but he was still able to connect on three birdies for a two-over 73. He is tied for eighth at three-under par.
- Giovanni Manzoni is even after 36-holes, posting a two-over 73 in the morning and two-under 69 in the afternoon. He is tied for 18th.
- Jorge Villar (76-73) and Guillermo Casares (74-75) are tied with scores of 149.
BEYOND THE SCORECARD:
- Lynn and Saint Leo is the only school to shoot under par in both rounds.
- Gana is looking for his 18th career top-10 finish, which would tie him for second all-time in program history with former teammate Manuel Torres.
- Gana’s 66 is one shot off his career-best of 65 set at the Bobcat Invitational in March 2019.
- Lynn is second in the field in par 5 scoring (-15) and tied for fifth with 33 total birdies.
- Gana is tied for second in par five scoring (-5) and tied for fourth in total birdies (10).
- Bustos is tied for eighth in par 4 scoring (-1).
- The Fighting Knights are looking to become the third team in NCAA DII history to win three consecutive national championships. South Carolina-Aiken (2004-06) was the last to accomplish this feat with Florida Southern (1998-00) the first.
NEXT HOLE:
Lynn closes out play at the Cougar Invite presented by AFLAC on Tuesday morning, teeing off from holes one-through-three at 9 am. Fans can keep up with live scoring at LynnFightingKnights.com.
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