Carroll Moves Into 16th At NCAAs

MANHATTAN, Kan. - University of Colorado senior Stephen Carroll turned in another steady performance here Friday in the second round of the NCAA Central Regional. But at first glance, a 1-under par 71 doesn't appear to take the world by storm.

Play was slowed dramatically in the morning due to heavy rains and strong winds. Carroll weathered the inconvenience with consistent play, scoring three birdies and a double bogey for his 71, and combined with an even par 72 Thursday, he stands tied for 16th at 143 heading into Saturday's final round on Kansas State University's Colbert Hills Golf Course (7,525 yards, par-72). Carroll's 71 tied for the seventh best round of the day and propelled him up 28 slots in the standings after ending day one tied for 44th.

"He played solid in some very tough conditions... it was cold, windy and rainy in the morning," CU head coach Mark Simpson said. "The course was playing tough, but he had a real good day and turned in the fourth lowest round of the morning, when all the highest seeded teams were out there. He still has a strong chance to advance, but it all comes down to what teams qualify (for the finals). But if he puts up another round like he did today in the same kind of conditions, he'll have a pretty good shot at it."

"It was easy to post a big score and let things get away from you, and this course is punishing when you don't get it in play," Simpson added.

Carroll was 1-under at the turn after starting on No. 1, and had some adventure out of the chute on the back nine. He misjudged the yardage on the par-3 No. 11, driving into the hazard after he got a 9-iron too high in the air and it caught the wind. It led to a double bogey, only his second score worse than par in two rounds here, but it did come right after he took a swipe at an near impossible lie in a hazard on No. 10 and chipped it in to save par.

The Buffalo captain is competing here as an individual, one of six from schools that didn't have their full team invited (CU wasn't invited as a team for the first time since 1998).

The top 10 teams out of the 27 competing here will advance to the NCAA Finals in two weeks. Illinois retained its first round lead, but scored 20 strokes higher Friday with a 295 for a 570 total score. That's good for a two-shot lead over North Carolina State, with Oklahoma State in third, four off the lead.

North Carolina State's Jason Moon and Wichita State's Judd Easterling are tied for the individual lead with 7-under par 137 totals through 36 holes. Carroll has to be one of the top two players not on the 10 teams advancing to the finals to also make the tournament (in two weeks in Stillwater). Currently, there are just three players not on the top 10 teams ahead of Carroll, and he's only three strokes off the pace.

Carroll begins his final round on the No. 10 tee at 8 a.m. mountain time Saturday.