O'Loughlin Fashions Par Score In Second Round of NCAA Regional

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — University of Colorado senior Daniel O'Loughlin shaved two strokes off his first round score here Tuesday, recording an even-par 72 in the second round of the NCAA Southwest Regional Monday.
 
O'Loughlin remained in the same spot where he started the day, in a tie for 40th, as he has an overall score of 2-over 146 on the 7,555-yard, par 72 University of New Mexico's Championship Golf Course layout.  He had four birdies and 10 pars with four bogeys Tuesday, giving him nine birdies and 16 pars over the two rounds.
 
The nine birdies are tied for the 14th most in the 75-man field.  He's played the par-3s at 1-over, the par-4s at 5-over and the par-5s at 4-under.
 
For the second straight day, he opened and closed his round with birdies (Nos. 1 and 18).  And for a second consecutive day, he closed strong – he wrapped Tuesday with three straight birdies after scoring three in his last four holes in the first round.
 
The top five teams and the top individual not from those schools will advance out of six regionals nationwide to the NCAA Finals, slated for May 28-June 2 in Scottsdale, Ariz.  CU did not qualify as a team but O'Loughlin was selected as the second individual seed for the Southwest Regional.
 
 "A really good finish by Dan to get back to even for the day," CU head coach Roy Edwards said.  "Challenging conditions but he managed things well.  He just struggled a little bit early, but kept battling and was rewarded at the end."
 
O'Loughlin still has a chance to advance to the NCAA Finals, but will need to score in the 60s in the final round to get into contention.  If the top five teams remain unchanged, the low score by an individual is 8-under 136 by two players; followed by one at 4-under 140, one at 3-under 141 and five at 2-under 142.
 
Scoring in the 60s would likely jump him well up in the standings; only 20 have been recorded in the first two rounds (150 total), with 12 of those by the players currently making up the top 10.
 
Oregon State's Spencer Tibbits took over the individual lead, carding a 6-under 66 for a 9-under 135 total score for 36 holes.  He leads a trio of players by one stroke, including first round lead from Oklahoma, Jonathan Brightwell (66-70).  Twenty-nine players are under par and another five are in at even.
 
No. 41 Oregon State extended its first round lead over No. 22 Texas Tech from two strokes to five; the Beavers have a two round total of 20-under par 556, while the Red Raiders are in at 15-under 561.  No. 12 Arizona State moved from fifth into third (-12, 564), with No. 14 Texas A&M and South Carolina tied for fourth (-8, 568).  The top seed in the regional, Oklahoma, also the No. 1 team in the nation, is ninth (-3, 573), but is well within striking distance.
 
The third and final round is scheduled for Wednesday; O'Loughlin will begin play on No. 1 for the third straight day and will tee off at 9:53 a.m. MDT.

 
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