UTM golfer in second at TSU Intercollegiate; matches course record

UTM's Graham Sleigh found his groove early in the second round of the Tennessee State Intercollegiate at the Arnold Palmer-designed King's Creek Golf Course by carding five birdies and two eagles, one of which was the hole-in-one variety, to quickly move himself deep into red numbers at 9-under-par after only seven holes. Sleigh, playing as an individual, went on to finish round two at 8-under-par 62 and tie the course record. In the process he also moved within only two strokes of the individual lead at 3-under-par 137 heading into tomorrow's final round.

"Graham got on a roll to start the second round and just never stopped," said UTM head coach Jerry Carpenter. "He really didn't drain any super long putts or get any lucky bounces; he was just playing really solid golf the whole way around."

The 2010 Tennessee State Intercollegiate is a 54-hole stroke play tournament conducted by Tennessee State University and hosted at the King's Creek Golf Course in Spring Hill, Tenn. The 90-player field is made up of 15 teams, including six OVC members, and 15 participants competing as individuals. The par 70 King's Creek Golf Course is playing at 6,740 yards.

As a team UTM sits in 12th place at 35-over-par 595 after recovering from a very disappointing 26-over-par showing in the opening round with a 15-over-par 595 in round two. The Skyhawks were paced by Jonathan Martin and Adam Clark's pair of 1-over-par 71s in round two. Martin sits atop the Skyhawk team leader board at 7-over-par 147 for the tournament in a tie for 28th place, while Barton Hamilton is one stroke back after firing rounds of 75-73-148. Clark sits at 12-over-par 152 after rounds of 81 and 71. Rounding out the team scoring were Sam Hinson and Christopher Schwartz, who both sit at 13-over-par 153.

"In the first round as a team we just played bad, there is no other way to put it other than that. I was happy to see us improve in the second round and I am very confident that we will do the same thing tomorrow in the final round," Carpenter said.


The Skyhawks also had a pair of individuals playing in the TSU Intercollegiate but it was Sleigh's historic second-round showing that stole the show. Sleigh carded a 5-over-par 75 in his opening 18, before rebounding with the best round of his collegiate career. Also playing as an individual was Taylor Deming, who turned in rounds of 75-74-149 and sits in a tie for 48th place.

In the team competition Murray State holds a five-shot lead at 8-over-par 568 over second-place John A. Logan Community College at 13-over-par 573. In third and only one stroke out of second is Belmont at 14-over-par 574.


John A. Logan's Filip Timmerman holds the lead at 5-under-par, after rounds of 69-66-135, but is chased in second by Sleigh and Muchael Sainz of Evansville, who are both at 3-under-par 137. Elliott Wickenden sits alone in fourth at 2-under-par.


The final round teed off on April 6 at King's Creek golf course with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. Results were not in at time of press.

Check www.utmsports.com for final results.