Tigges qualifies for final two rounds at NAIA Championships
Birdies on 16 and 17 helped Jared Tigges make the individual cut at the 70th annual NAIA Men's Golf Championships Wednesday.
The Bee senior followed up his first-round 2-under 69 with a 75 to sneak inside the cutline. His 144 places him in an 11-way tie for 37th place overall.
Tigges overcame a rough four-hole stretch on the front 9 where he played holes 5-8 at 5-over par. But the late back-to-back birdies, two-of-three birdies he carded on the backside, were enough to overcome a double-bogey on 18 and ultimately get him inside the top 40.
Unfortunately, Tigges will be the only Bee competing over the final two days of the championships at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. St. Ambrose missed the cut, ending in a three-way tie for 19th, four shots out of a needed top-17 finish. SAU was in 14th with a 288 Tuesday, but slipped slightly Wednesday with a 303.
Mick Haverland narrowly missed the individual cut. His second-day 75 left him with a 146, two shots off the mark. Haverland fired an even-par 71 Tuesday.
Owen Hultman fired consecutive rounds of 74 for a 148. Eric Spurgetis (74-81) shot a 155 and Dylan McAleer (83-79) finished with a 162. SAU had a team total of 591.
Dalton State (560) will take a 2-shot lead into the final rounds of the championship hosted by St. Ambrose and Visit Quad Cities. Point University's Brendan Porter has the individual lead with a 13-under 129. Wayland Baptist's Sebastien Tremulot is two shots back with a 131.
The third round will begin at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. Tigges will begin his round off No. 10 at 9:18 a.m.