Tuesday, May 9, 2017

STOCKTON, Calif. -- Western Washington improved on its first-round score by four strokes to finish the second day of action at the 2017 NCAA Division II West/South Central Super Regional in a tie for second place on Tuesday at Brookside Country Club.

The Vikings carded a 10-under-par 278 in the second round on the 6,777-yard par-72 course to move past Dixie State, Sonoma State and Cal State East Bay and into a tie with Midwestern State. The top five teams after Wednesday's round will all advance to the national tournament.

Senior Brett Johnson caught fire on the back nine, carding a score of 6-under-par 30 with four birdies and an eagle without any bogies to finish the second round with a score of 5-under-par 67. Johnson is now tied for eighth overall with a score of 7-under-par 137.

Michael Butler moved up 43 spots on the leaderboard to a tie for 21st place. He shot a 5-under-par 67 in the second round for a two-day total of 4-under-par 140. He carded five birdies and got a par on each of the other 13 holes. Butler and Johnson were tied for the third best scores of the second round of play in Stockton. 

After a poor start, Chris Hatch returned to form for a 2-over-par 74. The senior was six strokes over par after five holes, but settled in after that with four birdies and no more bogeys. He is now in a tie for 30th place after being tied for fifth following the first round. Jeffrey Marcum was at par for most of the day, but carded birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to finish the second day tied for 43rd at 2-under-par 142.

Simon Fraser is representeded individually in the tournament by Chris Crisologo, who shot a 1-under-par 71 in the second round to move into a tie for 13th place. He recorded four birdies on his first nine holes, but took a double bogey on the 17th hole to finish holes 10-18 at 1-under-par 35. 

Play on Wednesday will begin at 7:30 a.m. with Western Washington's start time being announced following the conclusion of play on Tuesday.