Easton in Third Place After First Day at Southern Dunes Invitational

Saturday, October 14

Maricopa, Ariz.

Western Kentucky University

Hosted by Wyoming

Photo by: Steve Roberts, WKU Athletics

Easton in Third Place After First Day at Southern Dunes Invitational

10/14/2017 7:59:00 PM | Men's Golf

MARICOPA, Ariz. – One of the best two-round performances of WKU men's golfer Stuart Easton's college career has the junior in third place after the first day of action at Wyoming's Southern Dunes Invitational.

Easton, an Ayrshire, Scotland native, fired a 5-under total of 139 (70-69) over Saturday's first two rounds at the par-72, 7,546-yard Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz.

The second-round 69 tied Easton's career low, which he most recently reached in WKU's last outing at the Memphis Intercollegiate. It was one shot off his previous 36-hole best. Easton is chasing his second straight top-five performance after tying for fifth in Memphis.

Easton registered 10 birdies over the first two rounds Saturday, including his first four holes of the opening round. He's two shots out of second place and five strokes behind individual leader Riley Elmes of Loyola Marymount.

"I got off to a hot start," Easton said. "Birdieing the first four is always nice. At that point, I thought I could take it a little deeper, but I kind of stalled coming in. But I can never complain with 2 under. Second round, I picked up where I left off. I birdied my first hole, made a couple of silly bogeys, but I found some good holes to birdie. I'm really pleased with finishing 3 under."

Easton was one of three Hilltoppers who either matched their previous career low for 18 holes or set a new personal best.

That helped WKU improve by 16 strokes from round one to round two, ending the day in sixth place as a team with a 586 (301-285) total.

The 3-under 285 was the second-best team score in the second round, and it was the Hilltoppers' best round as a team since carding a 284 in the first round of their own Kenny Perry Invitational on Oct. 10, 2016.

"We've got some room to move," WKU head coach Phillip Hatchett said. "We're 13 shots out of first place, and to be honest, as strong as this team is, we feel like if we can get firing on all cylinders on the same day, the sky's the limit with this group. They're so talented, and I'm so fortunate to be their coach."

Behind Easton, WKU freshman Crimson Callahan is tied for 29th with a 149 (78-71) total. The 1-under 71 tied his career low set at the Memphis Intercollegiate.

Redshirt junior Billy Tom Sargent is tied for 38th at 152 (79-73), while freshman Chase Landrum (81-72) and junior Blake Smith (74-79) are both tied for 44th. Landrum's even-par 72 in the second round was the best of his young career.

Loyola Marymount leads the team competition with a 573 tally.

The final round is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. CT Sunday with a shotgun start.

Southern Dunes Invitational First Day Results
3. Stuart Easton (70-69-139)
T29. Crimson Callahan (78-71-149)
T38. Billy Tom Sargent (79-73-152)
T44. Chase Landrum (81-72-153)
T44. Blake Smith (74-79-153)