WINONA, Minn. - Behind junior Caleb Miller's program record for lowest NCAA postseason round at three-under 68 and three-stroke improvements from junior Connor Harrington and senior Brendan Little, Southern Arkansas Men's Golf surged seven spots up the leaderboard and into the top ten at the NCAA DII Central/Midwest Regional. The Muleriders produced an NCAA postseason program record 291, the fifth-best effort of any team on Friday, to sit in ninth place and just six strokes back of earning a berth to the national tournament.
Through 36 holes, SAU is at 590 (+22); currently the fourth-best effort by a Central Region team in the tournament.
Miller's 68 (-3) in round two is the program's first ever NCAA Tournament round in the 60s. The Arkansan got off to a torrid start on Friday from the par-71, 6,778-yard course at The Bridges Golf Course. He birdied two of his first three holes and then eagled the par-5, 518-yard No. 5. Miller's only blemish across the next 13 holes was a bogey on the par-5, 379-yard No. 8 as he made par the rest of the way out to sit in eighth place overall.
Logan McDonald currently sits inside the field's top 25 in a tie for 23rd. He birdied three holes as he finished with a 75 on his second trip around the course.
Harrington and Little each shot 74 on Friday. After two bogeys in his first three holes, Harrington produced 13 pars and a birdie with a double on the par-5, 565-yard No. 11 standing as his only miscue on the back nine and through his final 15 holes. Little birdied both hole nine and hole 18 and added six made pars on the back nine.
Luke Cote rallied after a tough start on the front nine to notch six pars on the back half in round two.
Miller's eagle improves Southern Arkansas' program record for eagles in a season which now stands at a dozen. The 19 birdies through the first two rounds give the Muleriders 301 for the season making the '22-23 squad just the third team to reach the 300 mark. The second round 291 marks the sixth round this season at 291 or better.
The Muleriders birdied eight holes and made par 59 times in round two. SAU is currently shooting the fourth-best of the field on par-4 opportunities at +17. The Muleriders are at +18 on par-3 holes and at +5 on par-5s.
Southern Arkansas stares down history on Saturday as the Muleriders are six strokes off the current projected team cut line. Fans can follow along with the final 18 holes: Team - NCAA D2 Midwest/Central Region - 2023-05-11 (golfstat.com).
