Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational Results Through Two Rounds

MUNCIE, Ind. - The Loyola University Chicago men's golf team finds itself in ninth place following the opening two rounds of the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational in Muncie, Ind.

The Ramblers finished Friday with a 36-hole total of 760 (384-376) at the par 70, 6,438-yard course at the Delaware Country Club. Host Ball State (360-359=719) sits seven strokes in front of Cleveland State (362-264=726) atop the team leaderboard, while the Cardinals' Keegan McKinney (72-68=140) leads the Vikings' Patrick Luth (72-69=141) and Wright State's Ryan Wenzler (69-72=141) by a single shot in the race for medalist honors.

Loyola was led on the first day of play by the duo of sophomore Garret Buckley and senior PJ Riner. Buckley, out of Novi, Mich., carded a 77 to open the day before improving by four strokes during the afternoon with a 73 that has the sophomore sitting in a tie for 34th at 150 (77-73). Just one shot back of Buckley is Riner. The Johns Creek, Ga. native fired a 151 (74-77) that was highlighted by an opening-round 74 that has him sitting in a tie for 38th.

Freshman Orion Yamat and sophomore Kenny Mleko both turned in balanced performances today. Yamat posted a 153 (76-77) that has the Niles, Ill. native as part of a five-way tie for 48th. Mleko is a stroke back of his freshman counterpart, tied for 54th at 154 (77-77) after turning in back-to-back rounds of 77.

Junior Michael Valletti and freshman Zach Hoskins each showed improvement during second-round play today in Eastern Indiana. Valletti shaved four strokes off his opening-round score as he recorded a 76 to close out the day en route to a 156 that puts the Plano, Texas native in a tie for 60th. Hoskins finds himself in 66th place after putting together the top round of his young collegiate career to close out the day. The Orlando, Fla. product wrapped up his afternoon with a three-over-par round of 73 to round out the Loyola lineup with a two-round tally of 158 (85-73).

The final round of the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational is set to begin with a 7:30 a.m. (CT) shotgun start on Saturday morning.