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COLLEGE GOLF: OC in command after 36 holes at Odessa InvitationalNov 09, 2012 (Odessa American - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- There was no cushion for the Odessa College golf team Thursday in the second round of the Odessa College Invitational. With a full roster of five players in the first round, the Wranglers were down to four when Cody Taylor fell ill during the first 18 holes of the day. That meant every score was going to count toward the team score in the afternoon and Odessa College needed to go low to keep a solid lead heading into today's final round. The Wranglers did just that. After posting a 4-under-par 284 in the first round, the Wranglers came back with a 2-under 286 over the second 18 to post 570 for the day, giving them a 19-shot lead over Midland College (292-297--589). "It was a good day," Odessa College coach Paul Chavez said. Individually, Odessa College's Logan Philley (67-73) and New Mexico Junior College's Elliott Whitley (70-70--140) are tied for first, with the Wranglers' Kyle Gertner sitting in third at 141. Philley and Gertner will try to keep Odessa College's medalist streak alive as the Wranglers have had the individual champion in each of their first four tournaments. "The morning round was solid, I really can't complain," Philley said. "In the second round, I started off solid, but kind of hit a speed bump with three straight bogeys (10-11-12). "We lost our fifth player to illness, so the second round had a little bit more pressure. But, overall, everyone played solid." For Gertner, it was a matter of slow and steady wins the race as he never got on a run -- good or bad -- during the round, instead just finding fairways and greens en route to his third-place standing after 36 holes. He, too, is looking forward to battling for the top spot in the standings today with his teammate and Whitley. "I just played solid golf," Gertner said. "I made some bogeys, but came back with some birdies to get back to even or 1-under. "I birdied No. 4 twice, making a couple long putts on that hole including a 40-footer in the first round. My goal today was to keep it around par or under." Contact Lee Scheide on twitter @OALeeScheide, on Facebook at OA Lee Scheide, or call 432-333-7703. ___ (c)2012 the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) Visit the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) at www.oaoa.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |