Day 1 Results

ARLINGTON, Texas – Freshman Jeffrey Merrell fired a 1-over par 73 in the second round as Houston Baptist University shot back-to-back rounds of 305 to stand tied for 15^th after the first two rounds of the UTA Waterchase Invitational Monday at the 7,289-yard, par-72 Waterchase Golf Club.

Merrell carded a 77 in the first round and leads the Huskies, tied for 36^th, at 150, while fellow freshman Andy Ariens posted two-straight rounds of 76 to tie for 52^nd at 152. Junior Hudson Hansard led HBU with a 74 in the opening 18, but shot a 79 in the second round and is tied for 57^th at 153. Freshmen Preston Stanley and Brandon Wilhide are both tied for 70^th at 156 after recording 78s in both of their rounds. Senior Mark Slater is playing individually and is tied for 57^th at 153 with scores of 78 and 75.

Wichita State leads the tournament at 570, four strokes ahead of Sam Houston State and 14 up on host UT-Arlington and Arkansas State. Wichita State's Rafael Becker opened with a 3-over par 75, but rebounded with an 8-under par 64 for a total of 139 and a two-stroke lead over Sam Houston State's Scott Kelly, who shot 73 and 68 for a 36-hole score of 141.

The tournament concludes with the third round Tuesday at 8 a.m.