Day Two Results (PDF) | Round Three Tee Times (PDF)

* Mason sits in sixth place through 36 holes and is only three shots out of fourth
* Senior Eric Edwards is t-9th (73-77)
* Brock Kovach is t-15^th (75-78)
 
ORLANDO, Fla. – The George Mason University golf team overcame difficult hot and blustery conditions Saturday to keep itself in the hunt for a top-5 finish at the Atlantic 10 Championship.
 
Mason teed off later in the day as compared to Friday, and as such had to deal with stronger winds and baked greens during a difficult second round. Despite the challenges, Mason sits in sixth place in the tournament and is just three shots out of fourth, keeping a top-5 finish very much in play.
 
Through 36 holes, the Green & Gold have tallied a combined 615 (305-310, +39). Davidson (594, +18) leads the tournament by eight strokes.
 
"I loved that we got off to a strong start in the morning. It shows we have some real game," assistant coach Don Kelly said. "We're going to take that positive and build on it tomorrow."
 
The Patriots' five student-athletes were consistent across the board, with just two shots separating the first and fifth golfers.
 
Senior Eric Edwards leads the Patriot pack and is in a tie for ninth place after 36 holes. He shot 77 (+5) Saturday and has fired a combined 150 over the first two days. In his second round, Edwards made a nice five foot par save on the first hole after finding the bunker with his second shot. Then on the par-5 second, Edwards chipped his third shot to within eight feet and read his putt perfectly to post his first birdie of the day.
 
After a difficult stretch on holes three through seven, Edwards, played holes eight through 14 in a combined one-under par. His second birdie of the day came at the par-5 11^th. He continues to play the par-3s well this week and is t-7^th in par-3 scoring (E) amongst the field.
 
Fellow senior Brock Kovach overcame a difficult six-hole stretch on his back nine to pull out a 78 (+6) on Saturday. Kovach grinded throughout the day, and that effort despite not having his best stuff in the middle of the round allowed him to remain in the top-20 of the field heading into the final 18 holes of the tournament. He's tied for 15^th with a two-day total of 153 (75-78).
 
On Saturday, Kovach came out firing on all cylinders. He made a nice four footer for par on the first after his birdie putt ran by the hole. Then, on the second, Kovach nearly chipped in from in front of the green with a beautiful shot for his third. The chip lipped out and set up a short putt for birdie that he buried. After a great sand save on the third hole, Kovach birdied his fourth hole to go two-under through four. He wrapped up his front nine in even par 36.
 
On the back nine, Kovach played holes 11-16 seven over par, but rather than hang his head, the senior closed his round like a leader does. He hit a great tee shot on the par-3 17^th and made birdie. Then, on the par-4 18^th, he was the only member of his group to hit the green and just missed his 18-footer for birdie. That one-under finish on a difficult closing stretch set Kovach up to have a potentially special finish to his college career on Sunday.
 
Mason's final three golfers all have put together matching scores of 157 over the first two days of competition to tie for 27^th place out of the 55-golfer field.
 
Senior Ellis Messian shot an opening round 80, but improved upon that score by three strokes (77) Saturday in difficult conditions. Messian made a pair of bogeys in his first four holes, but then began to find his groove. He made par on the next three, then put together an excellent birdie on the par-3 eighth. After placing his tee shot about 15 feet above the hole, Messian sank his putt with the perfect pace.
 
After a double bogey on the ninth, Messian rattled off fourth straight pars. He ended his day well on the difficult closing holes and will now head into Sunday with some momentum. In all, he made a team-high seven pars on his back nine.
 
Sophomore Jeff Wilson shot 79 on Saturday after opening with a 78. He played his opening four holes at even par, including a birdie on the par-3 fourth hole. After a pair of bogeys at holes five and six, Wilson regained his form with pars on each of his next four holes. He made a few bogeys on the tough back nine, but also converted a gem of a birdie on the par-3 12^th. With water in play, Wilson stuck his tee shot close and made the putt to highlight his final stretch of holes.
 
Fellow sophomore Davis Soderberg stuck to the Mason pattern of strong starts, opening with a birdie at the first. He also made a great birdie at the par-5 sixth, putting the perfect pace on a downhill 20-footer to get back to even par through his first six. He went out in one-over 37. Soderberg made a few bogeys on his back nine, but unlike Friday, he avoided the big number. After making three double bogeys in round one, Soderberg didn't make one in his second. He will look to continue that pattern on Sunday.
 
Sunday's final round will involve split tees, with teams going off the first and 10^th holes. Mason will tee off from hole one beginning at 7:30 a.m., along with fellow members of the Commonwealth, Richmond and VCU.