LAREDO, Texas – Lee Poppell fired a final round 1-under to lead the Troy men’s golf team on Monday’s opening day of The Border Olympics at the Laredo Country Club. Poppell is tied for 12th place individually, while Troy sits in 11th place following 36 holes.
Poppell carded five birdies on the day, with three coming during his afternoon run through the course, where he shot 70 after signing on a 72 in the morning session. The Trojan junior now has seven rounds in the red this season.
Pablo Gracia leads the field, shooting 3-under on the par 3s and is tied for third with nine birdies, but big numbers plagued his card in the second round as he had seven bogeys and a triple in addition to his six birdies; he had just four pars in the round.
He shot even-71 to open the event, carding three birdies and three bogeys over the first 18 holes of the spring. Gracia is tied for 34th place with Grant Yerger, who shot 1-under in the second round thanks to five birdies; he closed the day with eight red holes after three in the morning.
Troy shot 14-over as a team on the day and finds itself in 11th place but just eight shots off a top-five finish. No. 50 Houston carded a 1-under to lead the field, while Lamar is three shots back in second.
Thomas Crane added five birdies on the day and is tied for 47th place at 6-over, while Lawton Emblom is tied for 69thplace at 11-over after carding five birdies in the opening rounds of his first collegiate start.
Troy plays Tuesday’s final round in a foursome with Texas Rio Grande Valley, Sam Houston State and Houston Christian; teams hit the course beginning at 8 a.m. for the shotgun start.
Team Standings
1. Houston 284-283–567, 2. Lamar 291-279–570, T3. New Mexico State 286-285–571, T3. North Texas 281-290–571, 5. Tarleton State 292-282–574, 6. Wichita State 300-276–576, 7. Illinois State 289-288–577, T8. Louisiana 290-288–578, T8. UTRGV 297-281–578, 10. Sam Houston 288-292–580, 11. Troy 292-290–582, 12. Houston Christian 292-292–584, 13. Wright State 293-304–597
Troy Individuals
T12. Lee Poppell 72-70—142, T34. Pablo Gracia 71-75—146, T34. Grant Yerger 76-70—146, T47. Thomas Crane 73-75—148, T69. Lawton Emblom 76-77—153
