ANNISTON/GADSDEN, Ala. – Despite a 4-under second 18 of the day from Jake Sherwin, the FGCU men's golf team is in 5th place with a two-round 588 total at the Jacksonville State-hosted Grub Mart Intercollegiate at Silver Lakes Golf Course following action on Monday, Mar. 23.
 
The No. 1 player in FGCU's lineup, Sherwin (Fort Myers, Fla./Evangelical Christian HS) opened his first round of the day with a 76 before bouncing back with the 68 in the second round. The 68 represents the third sub-70 score in the junior's first five spring rounds.
 
FGCU struggled in the opening round as no player broke par and the team shot a 305 total. However, in round two, three players shot under par as Austin Schultz (Lakeland, Fla./Florida Southern College/Lee Virtual Instructional Program) and Jordan Miller (Bradenton, Fla./Bradenton Christian HS) both carded 1-under 71s en route to a 22-shot improvement for the club with a 283 total.
 
The Eagles have a 10-shot lead over fellow Atlantic Sun Conference member Northern Kentucky (598) for sixth place. The seven-school tournament (nine teams total as two schools have an "A" and a "B" squad competing) is led by Jacksonville State with a 562 total as the Gamecocks have won the invitational each of the last five years and eight of the past 10 overall.
 
Each of FGCU's five golfers improved their second-round score from the first round with Sherwin and Miller each bettering their scores by eight strokes. Miller recorded an opening-round 79 and his 150 total is tied for 23rd overall in the field. Schultz is tied for 13th overall following a 75 first-round score (146 total).
 
"We started out slow playing a very demanding course, but I'm proud of the squad for fighting back and shooting a 5-under team score in the second round to put us in position for the final day," said FGCU head coach Eric Booker. "We continue to improve and build confidence, so another good round tomorrow is what we need leading into the event at Florida Atlantic later this week."
 
Making his first appearance of the spring season, Casper Howells (London, England/Bradfield College) was the most consistent Green and Blue member from the first round to the second round as he signed for a 75 and a 73, respectively, with the 148 total tying him for 18th overall. Keaton Jones (Kitchener, Ontario/St. Mary's HS) rounded out the Eagles' scoring for the day with a first-round 80 and second-round 78 (158 total, tied for 42nd overall).
 
Tee times off holes 1 and 10 starting at 7:30 a.m. local time (8:30 Eastern) will get the final 18 holes of the tournament underway on Tuesday. Updates as they become available will also be posted on Twitter by following @FGCU_MGolf, with the recap and results to follow on FGCUAthletics.com.
 
This is the first time FGCU is competing in the Grub Mart Intercollegiate, which began as the JSU–Silver Lakes Classic in 1994 and was originally intended to be a Division-II qualifier for the NCAA Tournament.
 
Silver Lakes Golf Course is one of the many courses along the famed Robert Trent Jones Trail, the largest golf course construction project ever attempted. After extensive renovations in 2011, the course boasts jaw-dropping views of the Appalachian Foothills, Lee's Lake and the original Trail Clubhouse, making for some of the most scenic golf in the world.
 
The Grub Mart Intercollegiate is the second of four tournaments the Eagles will play in a four-week span leading up to Atlantic Sun Conference Championship Apr. 19-21 in Braselton, Ga. The team will have an extremely quick turnaround after Tuesday's final round as the Eagles will tee it up in FAU's Spring Break Invitational beginning on Friday.
 
FGCU Lineup
T-8) Jake Sherwin: 76-68: 144 (E)
T-13) Austin Schultz: 75-71: 146 (+2)
T-18) Casper Howells: 75-73: 148 (+4)
T-23) Jordan Miller: 79-71: 150 (+6)
T-42) Keaton Jones: 80-78:158 (+14)
 
Complete Field (Golfweek Rankings)
1) #121 Jacksonville State: 280-282: 562 (-14)
2) #191 Western Kentucky: 285-284: 569 (-7)
3) #150 Austin Peay State: 291-282: 573 (-3)
4) N/A Armstrong State: 300-279: 579 (+3)
5) #162 FGCU: 305-283: 588 (+12)
6) #233 Northern Kentucky: 310-288: 598 (+22)
7) Jacksonville State (B): 305-300: 605 (+29)
8) #271 Eastern Illinois: 306-307: 613 (+37)
9) Northern Kentucky (B): 309-319: 628 (+52)
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For schedule updates, news and information, visit FGCUAthletics.com. For the latest news and behind-the-scenes access to information, photos and videos, follow@FGCU_MGolf on Twitter.
 
COACH BOOKER
FGCU is led by coach Eric Booker, a member of the PGA Tour and Web.com Tour (formerly the Nationwide Series) for portions of 17 years from 1990-2007. Booker finished in the top-5 three times in tournaments on the PGA Tour and also played in the U.S. Open and PGA Championship. He played in 62 career events on the PGA Tour, with his best finish being a tie for 3rd at the 1999 Honda Classic.
 
HELP THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visitwww.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.