Feb. 27, 2007

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - Led by junior Chris Ault, East Carolina tallied a team score of 605 (311-294) to complete the first two rounds of the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate Golf Tournament tied with Marquette for second place Monday. Chattanooga ended the day with a slim two-stroke advantage with a two-round total of 603.

The 54-hole event is being hosted by Francis Marion University at the par 72, 6,752-yard Wexford Plantation course. The final 18 holes will be played on Tuesday.

Following UTC's 603 team score is East Carolina University (311-294=605) and Marquette University (299-306=605), Mercer University (302-305=607), USC Aiken (307-304=611), Furman University (301-312=613), Eastern Michigan University (311-307=618) and Wofford College (313-305=618), University of Toledo (307-312=619) and Davidson College (313-306=619), Francis Marion (303-319=622), Miami University (Ohio) (308-315=623), Northern Illinois University (315-309=624), University of Iowa (326-314=640), and George Washington University (311-330=641).

Marquette's Mike Van Sickle leads the individual standings after 36 holes with a 2-under-par 142 tally. He fired rounds of 73 and 69 on Monday. Neil O'Briain of Wofford is second at 72-73=145; while Hodge (75-72), Ben Sieg of Marquette (72-75), and Michael Saari of Davidson (77-70) are all tied for third at 147.

Ault completed the first 36 holes tied for eighth place at five-over par (79-60=149). Sophomore Andre Thorsen fired a nine-over par 153 (78-75) to complete the first two rounds tied for 18th, while freshmen Tripp Brizendine (78-76) and Tanner Briele (76-78) were each one stroke back of their teammate with a 10-over par 154.