Killen, Ala. – The Stetson men's golf team bounced back from early struggles at the TVA Community Credit Union Invitational to post a 17-shot improvement in the second round of the event at the Turtle Point Yacht & Country Club.
 
The Hatters, playing with two redshirt sophomores, a redshirt freshman and two true freshmen, including a walk-on, started play Monday morning from the 10^th tee at the 7,133-yard, par 72 course that was designed by legendary course designer Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
 
Early struggles on the first three holes had Stetson in an early hole after posting a triple-bogey, three double-bogeys and six bogeys against just two birdies and three pars. But the Hatters settled down after the ragged start, playing the next three holes at three under par.
 
Freshman Ian Ball got off to the best start, making the turn in the first round at even par. Sophomores Mason Quagliata posted six straight pars after opening play at five over par through three holes while classmate Bradley Goldstein settled after a four-over start to maintain that score at the turn.
 
Redshirt freshman Truman Keppy weathered the rugged start by alternating bogeys and birdies over the first four holes, but a bogey/double-bogey two-hole stretch left him at three over at the turn.
 
Freshman walk-on Cooper Brown posted pars on the first two holes of his collegiate career before allowing a triple-bogey on the third hole snowball into three consecutive bogeys before he righted the ship with a run of four pars.
 
Things calmed once the team made the turn to the front, with Keppy posting eight pars and a bogey to finish a four-over par 76. Ball had a double bogey on the fourth hole and finished the opening round with a 77 while Quagliata mixed two birdies with four bogeys to finish with a seven-over 79.
 
Brown settled down to post a three-over par on the front to finish with an 81 while Goldstein carded seven bogeys on the front to finish with an 11-over par 83.
 
As played rolled into the second round, the Hatters settled in. Through those same first three holes the Hatters had two birdies and four bogeys and made the turn in round two at five over as a team, with Quagliata leading at even par and Brown on his heels at one over.
 
The final nine holes were more consistent with the exception of a pair of double-bogeys. Keppy and Quagliata both played the front at one under par with Brown cruised through at two over. Goldstein was three over before his double on the eighth hole, his 35^th hole of the day. Ball struggled and was five over on the final nine holes before a birdie on the seventh hole.
 
Overall, the Hatters stand ninth in the 11-team field following their team scores of 313 and 296. Host North Alabama leads the tournament following rounds of 281 and 297. The Lions are just two over par as a team, with a three-stroke advantage over Valparaiso heading into Tuesday's final round.
 
On the individual leaderboard, Valpo's Caleb VanArragon leads the tournament with a five-under par total of 139 following rounds of 69 and 70. Three players are tied at three-under par and are two shots off the lead. A total of 10 players finished the opening day of play at even par or better.
 
Keppy leads the Hatters with a five-over par total of 149 and is tied for 20^th. Quagliata is one shot back, tied for 22^nd, with a six-over par 150.
 
Brown and Ball are tied for 49^th with matching 12-over par scores of 156 and Goldstein is tied for 56^th at 16-over par.
 
The Hatters will open play again on Tuesday on the 10^th hole, with tee times starting at 8 a.m. Stetson will play the final round with players from Chicago State and Southeastern Louisiana.
 
Live scoring will be available throughout the final round on Golfstat.com.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.