Pretorius, MSU In The Lead After Suspended Second Round

PHOENIX, Ariz. – No. 22 Mississippi State holds a four-stroke lead after the second round of the Desert Mountain Invitational was suspended due to darkness Saturday night. After going 5-under as a team in the first round, the Bulldogs are the only team in the field currently shooting par or better. 

“I felt like we competed well as a team today,” head coach Dusty Smith said. “I certainly feel like there is plenty to clean up. You have to be very disciplined and committed on this course, and we need to make sure we do that better tomorrow.”

Peanut was on 🔥 in the first round‼️#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/jNxjF9j0kQ

— Mississippi State Men’s Golf (@HailStateMG) March 5, 2023

Ruan Pretorius holds the top spot on the individual leaderboard, two strokes ahead of Santa Clara’s Viraj Garewal. He carded eight birdies in the first round and went bogey-free on his first 11 holes of the second round. Pretorius is shooting six-under through suspended play. 

Garrett Endicott sits in a four-way tie for 15th. He carded four birdies and shot even in the first round.

Austin Vukovits and William Wann are in a seven-way tie for 24th. Vukovits shot 2-under 70 in the first round, carding a pair of birdies and made an eagle on the 16th hole. Wann made a 19-spot jump from the first round to the point play was suspended and is currently shooting even-par through 13 in the second round. 

Ford Clegg shot five birdies in the first round and is tied for 31st. Hunter Logan is tied for 48th and carded back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th holes. 

MSU will resume play in the second round Sunday morning at 9 a.m. CT and will play continuously into the final round. 

“I am excited for this team tomorrow and the opportunity we have in front of us,” Smith added. “We are going to learn a lot about ourselves tomorrow, which is always exciting.”

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