2016 MVC Men's Golf Championship Results Through Two Rounds

HUTCHINSON, Kan. - The duo of senior PJ Riner and sophomore Garret Buckley paced the attack for the Loyola University Chicago men's golf team on the opening day of the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Golf Championship in Hutchinson, Kan.

The Ramblers posted a two-round team score of 609 (309-300) to begin the 54-hole event at the Prairie Dunes Country Club (par 70, 6,940 yards). Southern Illinois (289-293=582) sits five strokes in front of eight-time defending tournament champion and host Wichita State (288-299=587) atop the team leaderboard. The Salukis' Peyton Wilhoit (68-73=141) holds a perilous one-shot lead over Trent Wallace (73-69=142) of Illinois State in the race for medalist honors.

Riner, the only senior in the Loyola starting five at the event, tuned in a solid effort on the opening day of play in the Sunflower State. The Johns Creek, Ga. native opened the day with a five-over-par 75 before firing a one-over-par 71 during second-round play to make a 12-spot leap on the individual leaderboard that has him in a tie for seventh overall at 146 (75-71). Riner, who made par or better on 28 holes on Monday, sits just five strokes off the lead entering final-round play.

Buckley carded back-to-back rounds of 74 to open play. The Novi, Mich. product, who burst on the scene at last season's league meet with a runner-up finish, is currently part of a four-way tie for 14th at 148 (74-74) but is just one shot outside of a hotly contested top ten on the individual leaderboard.

Junior Michael Valletti fired back-to-back rounds in the 70s that has the Plano, Texas native a tie for 37th with a 156 (79-77). The underclassman pairing of freshman Orion Yamat and sophomore Kenny Mleko each showed improvement during second-round play. Yamat, like Valletti, shaved a two shots off of his first-round score as he carded a 79 to close out that day that puts the Niles, Ill. product at 160 (81-79), tied for 39th. Mleko, out of Arlington Heights, Ill., is in 44th with a 165 (87-78) after bouncing back from an opening-round 87 with a second-round 78 that was just two strokes off of his 18-hole career low.

The final round of the 2016 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Golf Championship will begin with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start on Tuesday morning. Fans are encouraged follow along with live scoring via Golfstat.com.