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Lakers’ Wilcox gains ground, stands tied for seventh at NCAA Division II Southeast Regional
Clayton State sophomore shoots second-round 74; trails leader by four strokes

POOLER, Ga. – MAY 8, 2007 – Clayton State’s Will Wilcox gained some needed ground on Tuesday in the second round of the 2007 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional for men’s golf. The Laker sophomore fired a two-over-par 74 in the second round and is only four strokes off the overall lead entering the final round at the Savannah Quarters Country Club.

Wilcox is currently nine-over with a 153 (79-74), tied for seventh place with Presbyterian’s Thomas Todd and Columbus State’s Brandon Kuban. He trails Georgia College’s Johan Cronvall by one stroke, Lander’s Jake Amos and Charlie Hoyle and Columbus State’s Kyle Albright by two strokes, Columbus State’s Christian Ries by three strokes and overall leader Baxter Culler from USC-Upstate by four strokes.

Wilcox holds a one-stroke lead over Georgia College’s Juan Bialet, Columbus State’s Andrew Georgiou and USC-Aiken’s Jeff Goff.

Unlike Monday’s first round where only 14 players broke 80 on the 7,066-yard Greg Norman championship course, there were 25 players shooting in the 70s in the second round. Wilcox had the third-best score for the second round.

“He’s (Wilcox) got a shot, and it’s up to him tomorrow. He’s got to shoot a good round and see what happens,” said Clayton Stat head coach Barry Harwell. “This is the hardest conditions we’ve played in all season. The pins were set up more favorable today, but, on the other hand, nobody has shot under par in two rounds for this tournament.”

It was an up-and-down round for Wilcox. He recorded six birdies on the fifth, ninth, 11^th, 13^th, 17^th and 18 holes. However, he also had four bogeys on the front nine and two double-bogeys in the back on the 10^th and 16^th holes. Wilcox started his round on the back nine hitting his tee shot in the water and finished with the double-bogey on 10^th.

After that, he shot even par for the remainder of the round.

Wednesday’s final round begins at 8 a.m. at Savannah Quarters Country Club Wilcox will be in the 8:36 group teeing off on the first hole.