Beavers Move Up At Amer Ari Invitational

Friday, February 3

Waikoloa, Hawaii

All Day

Oregon State

Amer Ari Invitational

Conner Kumpula

Photo by: Scobel Wiggins/Oregon State Athletics

February 03, 2017 | Men's Golf

Live Scoring

By: Oregon State Communications

WAIKOLOA, Hawai'i – Conner Kumpula fired a 3-under 69 in the second round of the 26th Annual Amer Ari Invitational on Friday to lead the Oregon State men's golf team.

The Beavers moved up a spot into 12th place after knocking eight strokes off their opening round with an even-par 292-284--576 at the par-72, 7,074-yard Waikoloa Kings' Course.

The 21-team field includes 11 programs ranked among the Top 40 in the latest golfstat.com rankings.

The final round of the three-day, 54-hole tournament will begin at 7:30 a.m. Hawai'i time (9:30 a.m. PT) on Saturday and live scoring is available at golfstat.com.

"We finished well today," Oregon State head coach Jon Reehoorn said. "While still very early in the season, it was important the guys responded well to yesterday, which I think they did.

"Birdie-birdie finishes by Kevin and Conner were really important to give us a little momentum going into tomorrow's round. I know we have better golf in us, but most of that has to be done mentally. We need to be a little sharper on picking good lines off each tee and really being mentally into every shot."

Kumpula, a senior from Albany, Ore., was 1 over through his first 12 holes before catching fire with four birdies and two pars to finish with a 69. It's the ninth time in the past two seasons he's shot a round in the 60's.

He jumped 21 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 36th place with a 2-under 73-69--142.

Senior Kevin Murphy and junior Jonas Liebich each carded a 1-under 71 in the second round. Murphy is tied for 45th with a 1-under 72-71-143 and Liebich is tied for 68th with a 2-over 75-71--146.

Senior Calum Hill shot a 1-over 73 on Friday, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5, 501-yard 18th hole, and is tied for 68th overall with a 2-over 73-73--146.

Freshman Shawn Lu, a native of Honolulu, Hawai'i, is tied for 90th place with a 5-over 74-75--149.

It looks like the team title will come down to No. 18 Texas Tech (35-under 541) and No. 7 USC (34-under 542). Several golfers are in the hunt for the individual crown, led by USC's Rico Hoey who has a three-stroke advantage with a 14-under 67-63--130.

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