Benton leads, No. 11 Auburn men’s golf 2nd after Carpet Capital 2nd round

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ROCKY FACE, Ga. (auburntigers.com) – Senior Ryan Benton is tied for the individual lead as No. 11 Auburn men’s golf is three shots behind in second at 20-under after the Carpet Capital Collegiate second round Saturday at The Farm Golf Club. Benton is 9-under after a 5-under second round 67.

No. 21 Virginia, who was tied with Auburn after the opening round at 12-under, fired an 11-under 277 for a 23-under 553 total, just ahead of the Tigers at 276-280—556. No. 13 Clemson is in third at 283-282–565 followed by No. 7 LSU (283-284—567) and No. 6 Florida (284-285—569).

No. 16 Alabama is in sixth at 281-295—576 ahead of Tennessee (284-293—577), Kennesaw State (287-291—578), No. 17 South Carolina (283-295—578), Georgia Tech (286-295—581), Memphis (303-289—592), Dalton State (293-302—595), Chattanooga (299-299—598) and North Florida (293-307—600).

Benton, who is tied with Georgia Tech’s Luke Schniederjans, recorded six birdies with three-straight on Nos. 2-4 along with No. 8, No. 14 and No. 18. The Dothan, Ala., native’s lone bogey came on the par-4 17^th.

Senior Will Long is tied for 12^th at 4-under 68-72—140. The Gastonia, N.C., native came back after tripling the par-5 2^nd with birdies on Nos. 3, 7, 9, 12 and 15 and bogeys on the 4^th and 13^th.

Senior All-SEC Matt Gilchrest is tied for 18^th at 2-under 71-71—142 while sophomore Trace Crowe, who is playing as an individual, is tied for 23^rd at 1-under 68-75—143. Sophomore Jacob Solomon (69-75—144) and freshman Jovan Rebula (74-70—144) are tied for 26^th at even par.

Auburn, which is the defending champion of the Carpet Capital Collegiate, tees off Sunday’s final round at 8:30 am CT with Virginia and Clemson.