WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Ohio men’s golf team recorded its best round since the 1969-70 season with a 278 in the second round of the Mid-American Conference Championships at the Medallion Golf Club on Thursday. Bobcat sophomore Ryan Siekmann (Dublin) shot a career-best 67 to move into a tie for fourth as Ohio is one of just three squads under par at the event’s midway point.

The Bobcats are currently in third place with a 36-hole score of 571 (293-278), behind only Kent State at 556 (271-285) and Eastern Michigan at 561 (280-281) in the 10-team event. Their 278 ties for the fourth-best round in school history. The only better rounds by an Ohio squad were a pair of 274’s during the 1961-62 season and a 277 in 1967-68.

Siekmann’s five-under 67 in the second round tied for the ninth-best single-round score in school history. He is tied with four others at 140 after carding a 73 in the opening round.

Ohio junior Brian Elsea (Columbus) is just one stroke back in a tie for eighth after carding rounds of 73 and 68 on Thursday. His four-under 68 was a career-low for him.

Also competing for the Bobcats are sophomore Blake Russell (Dublin), junior Jon Johasky (Lower Burrell, Pa.) and sophomore Mark Cimarolli (Pittsburgh). Russell is tied for 15th at 144 (74-70) while Johasky is tied for 20th with a 146 (73-73) and Cimarolli is tied for 43rd at 151 (74-77).

“We didn’t play well this morning but this afternoon, we played very well,” said Ohio head coach Bob Cooley. “Obviously, we got it done this afternoon and moved into third place. Ten under is very good for anybody.”

Kent State’s Ryan Yip tied the tournament record with a 63 in the opening round and leads the event with a nine-under 135 (63-72).

Each team will play 18 holes on Friday and a final 18 holes on Saturday. Both rounds will begin at 8 a.m. on the #1 and #10 tees.