McCulloch Breaks Michigan State Record at 10-Under Par; Spartans in Third Place at the Johnnie-O at Sea Island

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State junior men’s golfer Ashton McCulloch set a program record for low 18 hole score with a 10-under par 62 and the Spartans are in third place among 14 teams after the first day of play at the Johnnie-O at Sea Island, being hosted by Rutgers at the Sea Island, Plantation Course in St. Simons Island, Ga.

The Spartans posted a two-round, 36-hole score of 13-under par 563 (287-276), including a 12-under par 276 in the second round, aided by McCulloch’s record-setting score.

Notre Dame leads the field at 19-under par 57, five shots ahead of Cincinnati, who is in second place at 14-under par 562, with Michigan State tied for third place with Texas at 13-under par 563 and UNCG rounds out the top-five teams at 9-under par 567.

McCulloch leads the field of 79 golfers at 14-under par 130, four shots ahead of Notre Dame’s Palmer Jackson, who is in second place at 10-under par 134.  McCulloch shot a 4-under par 68 in the opening round before his 10-under par 62 in the second round.

McCulloch, the 2023 Canadian Amateur Champion, posted 11 birdies, including one of each the last six holes on the back nine to finish his day, breaking the Michigan State school record in the process.

Senior August Meekhof is one of three players among the top-25 overall, tied for 21st place at 1-under par 143 (70-73), while graduate student Drew Hackett is one shot back, tied for 23rd place at even-par 144 (74-70).

Senior Bradley Smithson fired a 1-under par 71 in the second round and is tied for 43rd place at 2-over par 146 (75-71), while freshman Lorenzo Pinili is tied for 63rd place at 5-over par 149.

Playing as individuals, graduate student Pierce Morrissey and junior Satchel Pierce are tied for 76th place with scores of 8-over par 152.  Morrissey shot an even-par 72 to finish his day (80-72), while Pierce opened with a 2-over par 74 (74-78).

The Spartans tee off in Tuesday’s final round at 9:40 a.m., playing alongside Notre Dame and Cincinnati.