March 26, 2007

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss men's golf team shot rounds of 298 and 299 during the opening two rounds of the South Alabama Spring Invitational at the Heron Lakes Golf Club Monday.

Senior Joel Myrick (Hattiesburg, Miss.) led the way for the Golden Eagles with a pair 73s for a 146 total and a 23rd-place tie. Myrick was followed by junior Kyle Ramey (Paducah, Ky.) who notched an even-par 72 and a 77 to finish at 149 and a 34th-place tie.

Sophomore Rocky Cleland (Hattiesburg, Miss.) fired rounds of 76 and 75, while freshman Alex Park (Ithaca, N.Y.) tallied a 77 and 74 as the duo are tied for 40th-place with a 151 stroke total. Redshirt freshman Paul Apyan (Chattanooga, Tenn.) added a 78 and 83 to notch a 161 and hold 64th after the opening two rounds of the 54-hole event.

Derek Rende of Chattanooga shot a 10-under-par 134 after firing a 71 and 63 to hold a four stroke lead in the individual standings.

Chattanooga also holds the team lead with a two-round score of 595, followed by Southeastern Louisiana (572), host South Alabama (578), Louisville (579), Memphis (584), West Florida (585), Jacksonville State (586), VCU (593), Southern Miss and UCF (597), Mississippi State (598) and Mercer (607).

The tournament concludes with 18 holes Tuesday.