OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. – Florida seniors Bank Vongvanij and Andres Echavarria helped the Gators maintain the team lead after the second round of the Olympia Fields Invitational Saturday at the famed club outside Chicago.
Vongvanij and Echavarria each carded 3-under-par 67s and stood tied for third and sixth, respectively. Vongvanij was at 3-under 137, two strokes ahead of Echavarria.
Sophomore Tyler McCumber, who led the Gators with an opening 68, struggled Saturday and shot 73 to find himself tied for 12th place at one-over 143. Michael Furci shot a 74 for a four-over-par 144 total, three shots ahead of Phillip Choi, who shot 73 Saturday.
“Our seniors really stepped up today,” said Florida coach Buddy Alexander. “Bank has really shown how much he has improved over the last year. We had another solid day today, I am really proud of our guys. But we still have a long way to go tomorrow.”
The Gators are back in action on Sunday morning for the final round, beginning at 9 a.m. ET.
OLYMPIA FIELDS INVITATIONAL
At the par-70, 7,205 Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club
Team scores: 1. Florida 280-280—560 (E); T2. Oklahoma State 286-280—566 (+6) and Augusta State 280-286—566 (+6); 4. Alabama 285-283—568 (+8); 5. Duke 286-284—570 (+10); T6. Texas 289-282—571 (+11) and Ohio State 282-289—571 (+11); 8. Stanford 287-288-575 (+15); 9. Purdue 291-285—576 (+16); 10. Illinois 287-291—578 (+18); 11. Indiana 286-293—579 (+19); 12. Northwestern 290-292—582 (+22); 13. California 290-296—586 (+26); 14. Florida State 304-287—591 (+31); 15. Arizona State 296-301—597 (+37).
Top 10 (and ties) individuals: 1. Peter Uihlein (Oklahoma State 69-65—134 (-6); 2. Bud Cauley (Alabama) 66-70—136 (-4); T3. Bo Hoag (Ohio State) 67-70—137 (-3), Bank Vongvanij (Florida) 70-67—137 (-3) and Andrew Yun (Stanford) 69-68—137 (-3); T6. Andres Echavarria (Florida) 72-67—139 (-1), Bobby Hudson (Texas) 69-70—139 (-1) and Mitchell Krywulycz (Augusta State) 68-71—139 (-1); T9. Eric Chun (Northwestern) 68-72—140 (E), Yaroslav Merkulov (Duke) 67-73—140 (E) and Cory Whitsett (Alabama) 70-70—140 (E).
Team scores: T3. Bank Vongvanij 70-67—137 (-3); T6. Andres Echavarria 72-67—139 (-1); T12. Tyler McCumber 68-73—141 (+1); T23. Michael Furci 70-74—144 (+4); T43. Phillip Choi 74-73—147 (+7).