HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Justin LaRue picked up where he left off to start the season, and Longwood men's golf followed his lead.
 
The junior, who was also the reigning Big South Player of the Week, tied for third out of a field of 76, and the Lancer men sit in fifth out of 12 teams following two rounds.
 
RESULTS:
Guyan Golf & Country Club
Huntington, W. Va.
Par 71, 6,523 Yards
 
Team
5. Longwood: 279-283—562 (-6)
 
Individual
T3. Justin LaRue: 67-68—135 (-7)
T10. Nick Rakes: 70-68—138 (-4)
T43. Zane Moore: 71-73—144 (+2)
T62. David LaFreniere: 71-78—149 (+7)
T66. Cameron Hardison: 76-74—150 (+8)
75. *Logan Hooper: 79-75—154 (+12)
*Competed as an individual
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Longwood sits in fifth by one shot and is five shots back of Purdue-Fort Wayne in fourth place.
 
LaRue was near the top of the leaderboard throughout the day, posting a round that was one of the top 36-hole scores in program history.
 
He was second in the field with 13 birdies, and his 67-68—135 is a career low for him through two rounds while also ranking third in program history. Sitting seven under par also ties for the fourth-lowest round relative to par in program history.
 
Rakes was not far behind after shaving off a pair of strokes from round one to round two. He sits tied for 10^th after notching 12 birdies. His 12 birdies were one behind LaRue and good for third in the field.
 
Zane Moore posted a pair of solid, steady rounds, and he tied for the lead in the field with 28 pars. He is tied for 43^rd.
 
David LaFreniere, Cameron Hardison and Logan Hooper all made their Longwood debuts. LaFreniere had his first round count to Longwood's team score, and Hardison's second round scored as well. Hooper is competing as an individual.
 
WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"First off, it was good to get some new players on the golf course today," said Longwood Head Coach Kevin Fillman. "Secondly, I thought we did a number of really good things throughout the day, especially during the middle 18 holes. We closed the morning round very well and had things going the correct direction until at least halfway through the afternoon round."
 
"Obviously, both Justin and Nick had some flashes of great play," Fillman added. "They're veterans, and we count on them for a lot. At the same time, I also believe both will say he should have even been much lower. Overall, I'm not sure we started the way we wanted, and we definitely didn't finish the way we do traditionally. We certainly tired physically, and that takes a toll on the mental and emotional states as well. The afternoon round has been a strength for us over the years, but it hurt us a bit today. I know we can come out here and play a great round tomorrow, so we'll get rested up and see if we can't go put a low number on the board."
 
UP NEXT:
 
Longwood plays the third and final round tomorrow, September 12.
 
#GoWood #HorsePower