Connelly Tied for Lead Entering Final Round at Wexford Plantation

Monday, February 27

Hilton Head, S.C.

Mercer University

Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate

Connelly Tied for Lead Entering Final Round at Wexford Plantation

2/27/2017 11:28:00 PM | Men's Golf

By: Patrick T. Walsh

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Justin Connelly carded a 2-under-par day with back-to-back 71 rounds and is in a four-way tie for first place on the individual leaderboard as the first day's action at the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate wrapped up late Monday.

Mercer as a team finished the 36-hole day at 19-over-par, sitting in the top five and is just seven strokes from the leader. The Bears enter the final round tied with Akron.

The tournament is being held at the Wexford Plantation on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

MERCER SCORECARD

T-5.	Mercer	300	295	+19	595
T-1.	Justin Connelly	71	71	-2	142
T-34.	Kiko Rosete	79	72	+7	151
T-37.	Hayes Rule	77	75	+8	152
T-55.	Jerry Ren	73	83	+12	156
T-72.	Sean Smothers	82	77	+15	159

MERCER ON THE TEAM LEADERBOARD
The Bears are within striking distance. Radford and USC Aiken are tied for first at 12-over-par 588 and Mercer, tied with Akron, is just five strokes behind. In between sits Gardner-Webb (+13) and Winthrop (+17) while Cleveland State (+22) is just three strokes behind Mercer.

MERCER ON THE INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
Justin Connelly enters the final round of play in a four-way tie for first place atop the individual leaderboard. The quartet of golfers are all at 2-under-par 142 while the entire top 15 is within a five-stroke range.

COACH KAYDEN'S TAKE
"The guys have put us in a good position for tomorrow. We just need to stick to our game plan and execute good, smart shots off the tee. Keeping it in play will make all the difference in the final round."
"Justin had a very solid play from tee to green. He played the tough holes smart and converted on a number of birdie opportunities."

TUESDAY'S PAIRINGS
Mercer will be paired with Akron and Winthrop in the final round of play at Wexford Plantation. The field will have a shotgun start at 8:15 a.m. with Mercer, Akron and Winthrop teeing off holes four through six.

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