Georgia Takes the Lead in Round 2 of 2016 Kāʻanapali Classic

Chase Hanna of kansas tees off on number seventeen during the second round of the 3rd annual Kaanapali Classic collegiate invitational. Kaanapali Royal Course Lahaina, Hawaii November 5th, 2016/ Photo by Aric Becker

Georgia takes the lead with an (-18) on Saturday in round two of the 2016 Kāʻanapali Classic – Collegiate Invitational. Georgia senior, Greyson Sigg helped catapult his team to first after posting an impressive 64 (-7) on the Royal Kāʻanapali Course and is T1 going into the final round on Sunday. Tying the all-time Royal Course record, Kansas’ Chase Hanna posted an amazing 61 (-10) today to tie with Sigg at 133 (-9) for the 36-holes.

Sigg commented, “It was a good day across the board for our team. The guys in front of me were playing well and I just fed off of their momentum. I really like the way this team has played this week. I’m excited to see how we do in the final round.”

Georgia who is ranked 15th in the nation in NCAA rankings overtook first place with the help of defending champion and junior Zach Healey who shot a 65 (-6) on Saturday, and senior Greyson Sigg and teammate Spencer Ralston both with a 64 (-7). Healey fired an eagle out of the gate on the first hole and then again on the par 5 6th hole.

Zach Healy of Georgia hits out of the green side bunker on number five during the second round of the 3rd annual Kaanapali Classic collegiate invitational. Kaanapali Royal Course Lahaina, Hawaii November 5th, 2016/ Photo by Aric Becker

Healey climbed two spots to T3 with Clemson’s Doc Redman after 36 holes with a 134 (-8), just one stroke off the leaders. Sigg who is the Georgia team captain from Augusta, GA posted nine birdies today, five on the front nine.

He is looking for his first win this season, after earning three titles in 2015. Ralston had the only clean scorecard for this team with seven birdies.

Georgia Head Coach Chris Haack said, “I could not be prouder of the guys. I saw a lot of focus today and everybody came ready to play. I love the momentum that we have, but it’s up to us to keep it going in the final round.”

Greyson Sigg of Georgia hits his approach shot on number three during the second round of the 3rd annual Kaanapali Classic collegiate invitational. Kaanapali Royal Course Lahaina, Hawaii November 5th, 2016/ Photo by Aric Becker

Kansas’ senior Chase Hanna shot an incredible 61 (-10) today on the Royal Course, setting a new school record for low round with nine birdies, one eagle on the par 5 9th hole and just one bogey on the 15th hole. Hanna tied the Royal Kāʻanapali Course record set in 1998 by Champions Tour player Jay Sigel in the original “Kāʻanapali Classic”. Hanna shares the lead with Sigg and is looking for his second win this season. Hanna’s round on Saturday along with teammate Daniel Sutton with a 67 (-4) help move Kansas six spots up the leaderboard, T4 at (-6) after 36-holes.

“Great round by Chase,” Kansas Head Coach Jamie Bermel said. “I’ve seen some pretty good rounds of golf and his round (Saturday) was impressive. He’s a senior and very experienced and I couldn’t be happier for him. Chase knows the NCAA record is 60 and he had a really good chance on the last hole. He is such a competitor and it showed. Some golfers get nervous when they get a lot under-par, but he just kept going lower and lower. Coach (Chris) Wilson was with him the last few holes and really kept him in the moment.”

It was an exciting day of competition with LSU’s Sam Burns starting off right out of the gate with six birdies on the front nine and one on the back. Burns lead most of the day but unfortunately ran into trouble on the famed final two holes with two double bogeys to finish his round at 70 (-1). Burns’ score today (T12) helped LSU remain in second place after 36 holes at (-8). Teammates Nathan Jeansonne and Brandon Pierce posted a 68 and 67, respectively, today to help LSU’s team settle in to second place after 36 holes, nine shots off Georgia. Burns is currently ranked 7 th in the NCAA rankings and LSU is ranked 13th.

Defending Champions, Oklahoma shot a team (-13) on Saturday to climb four spots to 3 rd place, 11 shots off the leaders.

The NCAA 7th team of Oklahoma had a collaborate effort today with sophomore Blane Hale at 66 (-5) matching his career low, senior Max McGreevy at 67 (-4) and juniors Grant Hirschman and Riley Casey both at 69 (-2).

Oklahoma sits at (-7) for 36-holes and is looking to recapture the title they claimed last fall here at Ka’anapali. “It was a nice round for us collectively, which is great to see,” OU head Coach Ryan Hybl said. “The winds were down all day, so the golf course played much easier (than Friday). We will need some serious firepower on Sunday to get back in the chase, but I know our guys will be up for it.”

Clemson dropped to 4 th position after Saturday’s round with Johnathan Rector firing a 65 (-6) and Doc Redman a 67 (-4). Clemson is T4 with Kansas and South Carolina at (-6) after 36-holes. Redman who sits at T3 after Saturday, was T1 with South Carolina’s Keenan Huskey after round 1 on Friday. Keenan’s 70 (-1) on Saturday puts him at T5 (-6) for 36-holes.

The third annual 54-hole, individual and team stroke-play tournament is the largest collegiate field event of the season and features golfers from 24 schools across the nation: Ball State, Boise, Bowling Green, California-Santa Barbara, California State–Fullerton, California State-Northridge, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia State, Gonzaga, Hawaiʻi-Hilo, Hawaiʻi-Mānoa (host), Houston, Kansas, Long Beach State, Louisiana State, Loyola Marymount, Minnesota, North Carolina-Wilmington, North Florida, Oklahoma, Sacramento State, South Carolina and Texas- San Antonio.

Third and final round begins Sunday at 8:30 a.m. (shotgun start) on the Royal Kāʻanapali Course. Spectators are welcome to walk along the course throughout the weekend.