May 3, 2007

36-Hole Results (.pdf)
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WESTERVILLE, Ohio - After turning in 36 holes at the 2007 Mid-American Conference Championship Thursday at The Medallion Club, the Ohio men's golf squad sits in fifth place.

The Bobcats compiled a two-round team score of 578 (two-over) to open up play at the three-day conference tournament. Ohio will enter Friday's third round three strokes behind Eastern Michigan, and 12 shots ahead of Miami.

Mark Phillips (Hilliard, Ohio), Mark Cimarolli (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Ryan Siekmann (Dublin, Ohio) led the way for Ohio on the first day of competition as the trio each recorded 145s in the tournament's first two rounds to tie for 14th place.

Phillips' 71 in the first round had him tied for third after 18 holes, but he added three strokes to his second round total and slipped in the standings. Conversely, Cimarolli shot a 75 in the first round, but recorded just one bogey in the second round to finish with a 70. Siekmann also had a 71 in the first round and sank eight birdies on the day.

Grant Christman (Columbus, Ohio) will enter Friday's third round three-over after a 147 on Thursday. He shot 76 in the first round, but dropped his score five strokes in the second round thanks to four birdies.

Chad Warmbein (McMurray, Pa.) had the highest first round score for Ohio with a 77, but like Christman, he bounced back and cut strokes off in the second round and finished with a 147. His second round 70 not only tied Cimarolli for the best round for an Ohio golfer on the day, it also included six birdies, the highest single-round total on the squad.

Christman and Warmbein are both tied for 23rd in the field of 45 competitors.

Akron's Brad Wright has a six-under 138 to pace the field while the Zips lead the team standings with a 13-under 563.

Friday's third round is scheduled to commence with tee times starting at 8 a.m.