GAINSVILLE, Ga. - The Union University men's golf team surged ahead seven spots in the second round at the 2024 NCAA D2 Men's Golf National Championships, South/Southeast Regional Tournament. The 3-round event is being played at the Chattahoochee Golf Club and features 20 teams with 108 golfers. The final round is Saturday, May 11. 

This is Union's first appearance in the NCAA D2 Men's Golf National Championships. Union advanced to 11 NAIA Men's Golf National Tournaments before changing affiliations. Union is coming off a third-place finish at the 2024 Gulf South Championships, its highest conference finish. Union was ranked No. 7 in the NCAA D2 South Region Rankings, also its highest ranking, earning a bid to the nationals. 

Union jumped seven spots to sixth place after sitting in 13th place after round one. The second round was a continuation as the teams completed 36 holes Friday. Union's 289 was the fourth-best score of the second round. Union is now just two shots out of the coveted fifth-place spot. After two rounds, Union sits in a tie for sixth with West Florida. The top five teams advance to the NCAA D2 Finals, May 21-24 in Winter Garden, Florida. Union is just two shots behind the fifth-place team with one round left to play, Saturday's final round. 
 
Union was a part of four teams that made big jumps in the second round, three of them Gulf South Conference teams. Tampa led the way with a 9-spot jump, while GSC foes West Florida climbed eight spots and Lee jumped three spots. 

Union was again led by Daniel Maybee with a second straight 1-under par round, including four more birdies. He is Union's top golfer, in sixth place at 2-under for the tournament. 

Timothy Pinkston posted his best round so far in the event with an even par round that included an eagle and three birdies. Pinkston sank an approximate 60-foot put on the par-5 16th hole for the eagle. He is tied for 65th in the tournament. 

JJ Zimmer was 1-over in the second round with three birdies to put him at even par for the event. He is currently in 12th place. 

Trace Robinson shot 1-over in round two, putting him at 3-over for the tournament in 42nd place. 

Gray Campbell improved his play from round one, settling at 3-over for the round. He is in 92nd place. 

The final round will be in tee time format, the original intent for the 3-round event before the weather required a shotgun start to help get 36 holes completed in one day. In Saturday's final round, Union will hit the course at 11 a.m. (Campbell), 11:10 a.m. (Pinkston), 11:30 a.m. (Robinson), 11:30 a.m. (Zimmer), and 11:40 a.m. (Maybee). Union will be playing with Lincoln Memorial and fellow GSC member Lee University. 

-UNION-