June 1, 2006

SUNRIVER, Ore. - Dusty Smith fired a 4-under par 68 to move into the Top 10 and Lamar University is 11th following Thursday's second round at the 109th NCAA Championships hosted by the University of Portland at Crosswater Golf Club (par-72, 7,630-yards).

Smith, a junior from The Woodlands, made three birdies on the front-nine to make the turn at 3-under 33. He made three more birdies and two bogeys on the back-nine for a 1-under 35. After opening with a 1-under 71 on Wednesday, Smith is tied for sixth place with a 36-hole score of 5-under 139.

Lamar, who was tied for 16th following an opening round 292, moved up five spots after firing a 5-under 283 on Thursday. That tied with Texas A&M and Arizona for the third-best team score of the day. The Cardinals are in 11th place with a 36-hole score of 1-under 575.

Washington holds the 36-hole lead at 13-under 563. Arizona State, who fired a 9-under 279 Thursday, and Wake Forest, who was the 18-hole leader, are tied for second at 10-under 566 in the 30-team field.

Kyle Reifers of Wake Forest, fired a 7-under 65 on Wednesday, shot a 2-under 70 Thursday and holds the 36-hole lead at 9-under 135. Zach Bixler of Washington, Pablo Martin of Arizona State and Niklas Lemke of Arizona State are tied for second at 6-under 138.

Dawie Van Der Walt, a sophomore from Cape Town, South Africa, fired a 2-under 70 for the second straight day and is tied for ninth place at 4-under 140. After making bogey on the par-4 fourth hole, he eagled the par-5 sixth and birdied the eighth hole to make the turn at 2-under 34. He make one birdie and one bogey on the back-nine.

Casey Clendenon, a sophomore from Katy, posted the Cardinals second-best round of the day, a 3-under 69. He made three birdies and one bogey on the front-nine to make the turn at 2-under 34. He made eight pars and one birdie on the back-nine. After opening with a 4-over 76, Clendenon is tied for 44th place at 1-over 145.

Justin Harding, a freshman from Cape Town, South Africa, posted his second straight round of 4-over 76 and is in 132nd place at 152. He made four bogeys on the front-nine, but rebounded with one birdie and one bogey on the back-nine.

Oliver Bekker, a freshman from Stellenbosch, South Africa, had three bad holes in posting a 7-over 79. He is tied for 140th place with a 36-hole score of 75-79--154. He made two bogeys and a quintuple-bogey on the par-5 12th hole.

The Cardinals need to remain among the Top 15 teams to advance to Saturday's final round.