HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Southern Arkansas freshman Caleb Miller posted a career-low 36-hole effort courtesy of an opening round 68 and a round two score of 71 which has the rookie at -5 (139) and in second place, four shots back of the lead, entering the final round of play at Henderson State's Battle for the Belt. Monday's action on the par 72, 6,713-yard Arlington Course of the Hot Springs Country Club ended with Southern Arkansas in third place as a team. First-year head coach Neriah Brown's group carded scores of 288 and 294 to finish at +6 (582) after veterans Roman Timmerman and Kade Johnson landed in the top 10 individually through two rounds of play.
 
Miller's career day, which saw him atop the leaderboard after the first round, included -4 on par-5 scoring with an eagle and the tournament's second-most birdies at 11. His 68 in round one is a team-best round this season and he becomes the tenth different Mulerider to shoot 68 or lower in a round in the program's Golfstat Era. He is the seventh different player in the same span to shoot a 139 or better through two rounds.
 
Timmerman used a 73 and a 72 in his two rounds to move into a tie for sixth place at one over (145). The Canadian went even on par-3 scoring and matched Miller's par-5 scoring at -4 and Johnson's par count at 20. He also added eight birdies.
 
Johnson went even in round one and finished tied for 10^th at +3 (147) after carding a round two 75. He recorded seven birdies and 20 pars.
 
Freshman Brendan Little is tied for 29^th after rounds of 75 and 79. Junior Garrett Davis, who is golfing as an individual, is tied for 17^th after consecutive rounds of 76 on Monday. He was one of seven players to notch an eagle on Monday. Freshman Connor Harrington shaved five strokes off of his round one 81 as he finished Monday at +13 (157).
 
SAU's 582 as a team ranks as the 11^th lowest 36-hole total since 2015-16. The Muleriders are three strokes back of Henderson State for second place and 15 strokes back of tournament-leader Arkansas Tech which is at -9 (567).
 
SAU returns to action on Tuesday for the final 18 holes of play. Miller will tee off with the last group at 10 a.m. from No. 1. Harrington hits the course first at 9:20 a.m. and will be followed by Little (9:30 a.m.), Johnson (9:40 a.m.) and Timmerman (9:50 a.m.) Results will be made available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.