UK golf’s McDaniel is tied for lead, team third at NCAA regional

Kentucky sophomore Tyler “Chip” McDaniel tied for the day’s best round with a 5-under 67 to move into a tie for first on the individual leaderboard at the NCAA men’s golf regional in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Tuesday.

The Cats maintained their hold on third place in the team standings with 18 holes to go at the Ol’ Colony Golf Course. The top five teams from each of six regions will advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., next week.

McDaniel, a former Clay County standout, had eight birdies, one bogey and one double bogey on Tuesday, and was in the lead at 5-under par overall along with Georgia teammates Greyson Sigg and Zach Healy. The Cats’ Lukas Euler, a freshman from Germany, shot a 71 (four birdies and three bogeys) and was tied for fifth at 3 under.

“This course is a superb test and I am so proud of the way my guys are handling it,” UK Coach Brian Craig said. “It will test every part of your physical and mental game. And how about Chip and Lukas? Those boys have come to play this week and are competing their hearts out for this team.”

Junior Stephen Stallings (St. Xavier) shot a 73 and was tied for 11th overall at even par. David Snyder (Somerset) was tied for 38th at 7 over, and Cooper Musselman (St. Xavier) was tied for 66th at 16 over.

In the team standings, the Cats (-1) trail Georgia (-10) and South Carolina (-7). They are one shot ahead of Alabama (E), which is followed by Auburn (+8), College of Charleston (+17) and UNLV (+17).

Former Lexington Catholic standout Matthew Mahle, a junior at College of Charleston, was tied for 47th at 9 over after an up-and-down second round that included five birdies, five bogeys and a double-bogey.

This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 6:48 PM with the headline "UK golf’s McDaniel is tied for lead, team third at NCAA regional."