JONESBORO, Ark. – The University of Tennessee at Martin golf squad ranked atop the team standings through 18 holes while Skyhawk true freshman Cole Isbell is in the chase for the individual championship at the Bubba Barnett Intercollegiate hosted by Arkansas State.
           
Isbell is currently sitting at a 136 (-8) through the first two rounds, which ranks fifth in the field of 84 participants. The Cumming, Ga. native ranked second in the tournament with a 66 in the opening round – carding two eagles and three birdies against just one bogey – before finishing off his day with a 70 (three birdies, one bogey) in Round 2. His two birdies are the most in the field while he is also third in the event in par-4 scoring (3.85, -3) in addition to leading UT Martin in par-5 scoring (4.38, -5) and pars (26).
           
As a team, the Skyhawks shot a 276 (-12) this morning to top the team leaderboard by one stroke in a crowded 15-team field. UT Martin followed with a 299 (+11) in Round 2 and are currently seventh in the standings with a 575 (-1). The Skyhawks pace the tournament with three eagles while ranking second in pars (110) – sinking 22 of their 35 birdies in the first round.
           
All five members of the UT Martin scoring lineup shot under par in Round 1. Following Isbell’s 66 was Jackson Twerdahl (69), Jonathan Xoinis (70), Grant Phillips (71) and Drew Williams (71). Xoinis was 5-under through his first four holes before finishing with a co-team-high six birdies and an eagle. Twerdahl matched him with a team-best six birdies while Phillips and Williams managed four and three birdies, respectively.
           
In Round 2, Isbell’s 70 led the way while Twerdahl (73 with five birdies – including four in the span of five holes on the back-nine), Xoinis (76), Phillips (80) and Williams (80) completed the team scoring. Williams tapped in three birdies while Xoinis and Phillips each had one red score in the second round.
           
Overall, Twerdahl’s score of 142 (-2) rank inside the top-25 of the player standings as he ranks second in the field in par-3 scoring (2.75, -2) with a team-best 11 birdies. Xoinis follows with a 146 (+2) while Phillips and Williams accounted for identical 151’s (+7).
           
Competing as an individual, freshman John-Gregory Wilson posted a 79 with a pair of birdies in the first round before finishing with two more birdies as part of an even-par 72 this afternoon.
           
A split tee Round 3 will take place tomorrow as the Skyhawks will start on Hole No. 1 alongside Jacksonville State, Southern Indiana and Murray State. Williams (7:50 a.m.) will lead things off and will be followed by Phillips (8:00), Xoinis (8:10), Twerdahl (8:20) and Isbell (8:30). Wilson will start his day on Hole No. 10 at 7:50 a.m.