Leach's 71 Lifts MU at BIG EAST Championships

OKATIE, S.C. — Led by a 1-under-par 71 from freshman Tyler Leach, Marquette shot an even par 288 in the second round to take a six-stroke lead at the 2019 BIG EAST Men's Golf Championships at Callawassie Island G.C. on Saturday.

The Golden Eagles, who entered Saturday's play down five strokes and in third place, were eight strokes better than the remaining eight teams in the championship field in the second round. Marquette will go for its fourth BIG EAST crown on Sunday and first since 2017.

Matt Murlick, who finished second in last year's championships, shot an even par 72 to move into a tie for fifth place at 3-over-par for the tournament (75-72—147). Murlick is five strokes behind the lead set by DePaul's Charlie Spencer White, who is at 2-under-par through 36 holes.

This was a birdie for Matt Murlick on the par 3 5th hole at @CallawassieSC! He is at 1-over-par for @MarquetteMGolf, 2 off the individual lead. #BIGEASTgolf pic.twitter.com/pa9vLKmh8o
— BIG EAST Champs (@BIGEASTchamps) April 27, 2019

Four of MU's five starters are in the top 14, as Leach, Oliver Farrell, and Austin Kendziorski are tied for 11th place at 5-over-par. Farrell shot an even par 72 in the second round.

Leach (77-72–149) went out at even par, matching three birdies with three bogeys on the opening nine. But on a typically tough back nine at Callawassie, Leach notched three more birdies to come in at 1-under-par. His nine birdies in 36 holes are tied for the lead in the 45-man championship field.

Marquette has a tournament-best 30 birdies and a 5-under-par total score on Par 5 holes.

Weather conditions were calm compared to Friday's winds - the average score in the field dropped nearly two strokes to 76.56.