BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – In its first event of the 2008-09 season, the defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Eastern Kentucky men’s golf team is tied for third after the first two rounds of the John Piper Intercollegiate, hosted by Bowling Green State University. The Colonels won this event last season, but will need to overcome a four-shot deficit to catch the leader, BGSU.

Eastern (294-296—590) is 14 shots over par. Bowling Green State (586) leads the 13-team event at 10-over. Ohio University (587) is second, one shot behind. Detroit (590) is also four shots behind.

Senior Trey Bowling leads the Colonels and is third overall after rounds of 69 and 72. His two-round total of 141 is three-under-par and only one shot behind the leader. Bowling finished fifth here last season.

Senior Jesse Massie, last year’s John Piper Intercollegiate individual medalist, is tied for ninth at four-over. Senior Shaun McConnel (152) shot an 80 in the first round but rebounded to card an even-par 72 in round two and is tied for 23rd. All five Colonels are among the top-36 of the 75 player field.

The John Piper Intercollegiate is being contested at Stoneridge Golf Club, a par-72, 7,064-yard course. The third round of the 54-hole event will begin at 8:30 a.m., on Tuesday.

T3. EASTERN KENTUCKY 294-296 – 590
3. Trey Bowling 69-72 – 141 (-3)
T9. Jesse Massie 73-75 – 148 (+4)
T23. Shaun McConnell 80-72 – 152 (+8)
T30. Brian Fister 75-78 – 153 (+9)
T36. Brandon Berry 77-77 – 154 (+10)

Playing As An Individual
T36. Corey Welch 77-77 – 154 (+10)
T45. Billy Peel Jr. 79-77 – 156 (+12)