Longwood University Athletics

PINEHURST, N.C. – A steady, controlled approach up and down the lineup kept Longwood men's golf solely in possession of second place on day two of the Pinehurst Collegiate on Saturday.
 
Nick Rakes posted team-best score of 72 on the day, besting his first day by four strokes to wrap up the first two rounds with a card of 76-72—148 (+6), moving up into a tie for 17^th. Brandon Weaver carded a 73, one day after posting an even-par 71. The graduate senior's two-day score of 144 (+2) is good for a tie for second, one shot off the leader in the 71-player field.
 
"After not playing a very good first hole, Nick was very solid," said Longwood head coach Kevin Fillman. "Until a six-footer at his final hole, he may not have given himself many good birdie looks, but he hit a lot of fairways and greens, which led to a bunch of simple pars.  On these putting surfaces, par is a good score."
 
Rakes recorded 11 straight pars after a bogey on the opening hole, and the freshman birdied the final hole he played.
 
The Lancers knocked off four strokes from their round one score, recording a 294 on the day for a two-day card of 298-294—592, three shots off the invitational leader in Dayton.
 
"A little like yesterday, we really had to battle again today," Fillman said. "I'm certain that, at a point still early in the round, we had made more doubles than birdies.  Once we got behind, the good news is that we, once again, did a great job of scratching and clawing our way to the finish.  Thus far, our toughness has given us a chance heading into the final round."
 
Daniel George fought off a slow start and posted an even-par 36 on over his final nine holes to shoot 75 for a two-day total of 149 (+7), good for a tie for 23^rd. Christian Michael bested his first round score by three strokes for a two-day total of 77-74—151 and is tied for 31^st. Brendan Dunphy finished with a two-day card of 78-79—157, T-55.
 
"The goal for tomorrow is to go finally play to our ability and add them up at the end," Fillman added. "It's going to be a lot of fun. Our other guys didn't have their best games today, but they fought their way around to keep us in the golf tournament."
 
The final round at the Pinehurst Intercollegiate will continue on Sunday, March 14^th with all third round scores tracked live on golfstat.com.
 
Team Leaderboard
1. Dayton, 300-289—589 (+21)
2. Longwood, 298-294—592 (+24)
3. Elon, 305-289—594 (+26)
T4. Old Dominion, 300-295—595 (+27)
T4. Belmont, 296-299—595 (+27)
6. Wofford, 302-295—597 (+29)
7. George Washington, 298-301—599 (+31)
8. Butler, 301-299—600 (+32)
9. DePaul, 305-296—601 (+33)
10. Xavier, 306-296—602 (+34)
11. Abilene Christian, 303-300—603 (+35)
12. Marshall, 310-302—612 (+44)
 
Longwood Results
T2. Brandon Weaver, 71-73—144 (+2)
T17. Nick Rakes, 76-72—148 (+6)
T23. Daniel George, 74-75—149 (+7)
T31. Christian Michael, 77-74—151 (+9)
T55. Brendan Dunphy, 78-79—147 (+16)
 
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