JONESBORO, Ark. (4/3/17) – The Arkansas State men's golf team completed the first two rounds of its annual home tournament, the Red Wolves Intercollegiate, Monday at RidgePointe Country Club with a pair of squads leading the 16-team field and eight players among the top-25 individual leaders.

Led by sophomore Matthew Cole, the Red Wolves' team in first place posted scores of 295 and 294 for the first and second rounds, respectively, to end the day with a combined 589. The A-State squad in second place started with a 299, but cut eight strokes off that total for the second 18 holes as four players improved their score from the first round. The teams will enter the third round separated by only one stroke.

UT Martin, last year's tournament champion, isn't far behind with a 36-hole 592, while SIU Edwardsville stands fourth with a 597 and Missouri State fifth with a 598.

Cole led all A-State players on the day, finishing in second place with a combined 142 (72-70). He shot a 72 for the opening 18 holes and followed with a 70, which was the lowest single-round score of the day by the Red Wolves. Cole is currently only one stroke behind leader Matt Zakutney of Murray State.

Also playing for the Arkansas State team in first place, senior Matt Loiacano recorded a 146 (73-73) to place him tied for fourth. Freshman Nikolaj Dahl is tied for 10th place with a 148 (75-73).

The second-place Arkansas State squad was led by sophomore Joel Wendin, who posted scores identical to Loiacano. A redshirt sophomore, Trent Jones is currently tied for 10th place with Dahl after carding a 76 and 72 for the first and second rounds, respectively. Also among the top-25 leaders for the Red Wolves, Tanner Napier is tied for 15th place with a 149 (76-73) and Andrew Huseman tied for 24th with a 152 (79-73).

The tournament's third-and-final round is set to begin tomorrow morning with a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m.

ARKANSAS STATE RESULTS
Place, Name (RD 1-RD 2—Total)
1, Arkansas State 'B' (295-294—589)
2, Matthew Cole (72-70—142)
T4, Matt Loiacano (73-73—146)
T10, Nikolaj Dahl (75-73—148)
T29, Kevin Kramarski (75-78—153)
T45, Patrik Jericha (76-79—155)

Place, Name (RD 1-RD 2—Total)
2, Arkansas State (299-291—590)
T4, Joel Wendin (73-73—146)
T10, Trent Jones (76-72—148)
T15, Tanner Napier (76-73—149)
T24, Andrew Huseman (79-73—152)
T29, Zan Luka Stirn (74-79—153)