STILLWATER, Okla. – The fifth-ranked Alabama men's golf team set a new Karsten Creek course record for a team score by carding a 9-under par 279 on Saturday in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Golf Championships. As a result, the Crimson Tide vaulted 16 spots up the leaderboard to third overall after 36-holes with a team score of 3-under par 573 (294-279).

Alabama improved 15 strokes from its opening round total of 294, which concluded early Saturday morning after darkness halted play on Friday. The Tide's second round mark was not only the lowest of the day, but it bettered the former course record of 8-under 280, which was set by Northwestern in Friday's first round of championship play.

"I'm proud of our guys," Alabama head coach Jay Seawell said. "Our slogan all season has been bounce back. We had a great conversation last night and I reminded them that there was a lot of golf left to play. We talked about bounce back and that's exactly what we challenged them to do. I am really proud of what we were able to do. Our All-Americans played like All-Americans and I thought everyone did a great job today."

Alabama is two strokes back of clubhouse leader No. 13 Texas Tech (571) and stroke behind top-ranked Oklahoma State (572) heading into Sunday's action. The trio are the only three teams in the 30-team field that is below par.

The Crimson Tide was led on the day by senior Lee Hodges and junior Davis Riley , who were both named to the PING All-Region team earlier in the day.

Hodges topped the team with seven birdies to go along with just two bogeys for a second round score of 5-under par 67. It was the 14th time this season he has shot in the 60s and the 21st round of par or better for the Ardmore, Tenn., native. He will enter the third round in a tie for 13th overall with a 36-hole total of 3-under par 141 (74-69).

Meanwhile, Davis recorded his team-leading 22nd round of par or better and matched Hodges with his 14th round in the 60s after carding a 3-under 69 on Saturday. The Hattiesburg, Miss., native is at 1-under par 143 (74-69) after two rounds, which pits in him a tie for 23rd.

Senior Jonathan Hardee finished at even par on Saturday and has a 36-hole total of 1-over 145 (73-72) and is in a tie for 37th. Freshman Davis Shore was the fourth Crimson Tide golfer to shoot par or better on Saturday with a 1-under 71, and has a two-day total of 3-over 146 (75-71) to end the day in a tie for 46th. Freshman Wilson Furr rounds out the Tide in a tie for 128th with a 153 (73-80) on the par 72, 7,460-yard Karsten Creek Club layout.

Alabama will tee off the third round on Hole No. 1 at 7 a.m. CT and will be paired with Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

Live scoring for this year's tournament can be found at www.Golfstat.com.

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