Texas Tech men’s golf put itself in position for a major early-season statement Friday, and Ben Gregg was at the center of it.
Gregg surged to the individual lead at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational, reaching 11 under through 36 holes after rounds of 65 and 64 at Olympia Fields Country Club.
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The No. 5 Red Raiders finished the day at 25 under, just one shot behind host Illinois on the team leaderboard.
Gregg’s second round was the difference.
The Texas Tech senior made eight birdies in a 6-under 64, with a double bogey standing as his only real mistake of the round. Earlier in the day, he opened with a 5-under 65 that included an eagle on the 571-yard, par-5 ninth hole.
That gave Gregg a one-shot advantage over Illinois’ Max Herendeen, who sat at 10 under when play was suspended because of darkness.
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Gregg’s run isn’t coming out of nowhere.
Just days earlier, he earned the best finish of his college career by tying for second at the Inverness Intercollegiate. He finished that event at 2 under and came within a missed birdie on the final hole of forcing a playoff.
His recent play has also shown how quickly his confidence is building. At Inverness, a second-round 66 pushed him into the lead through 36 holes and matched what was then his career-low round.
Gregg isn’t carrying Texas Tech alone.
Connor Graham is four shots behind him at 7 under after following a 69 with a bogey-free 64. Graham made six birdies in the second round and sits seventh individually.
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Adam Bresnu is 4 under, while Simon Hovdal and Tim Wiedemeyer are both 2 under. Every Red Raider finished Friday under par.
The result is a Texas Tech team in striking distance of another strong finish against a loaded field that includes No. 1 Florida, No. 3 Oklahoma State and No. 4 Arizona State.
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With Saturday’s final round ahead, Gregg now has another chance to finish what he nearly accomplished earlier this week.
Texas Tech has put itself in position to win. And Gregg has put himself in position to make sure he’s the one holding the individual trophy.
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