Mullarney 10 back in Patriot All-America; Hood withdraws
Maynooth University's Ronan Mullarney (left) and Jordan Hood
Maynooth University's Ronan Mullarney is ten strokes off the pace going into today's second round of the 54-hole Patriot All-America Invitational in Arizona.
While team mate Jordan Hood was forced to withdraw with a hand injury, Galway native Mullarney mixed two birdies with three bogeys and two double bogeys in a five-over-par 75 at The Wigwam in Litchfield Park.
Mullarney is tied for 65th place behind Baylor University's Garret May, who shot a five-under 65 to lead by a shot from the University of Arizona's George Cunningham.
Five players are tied for third after three-under-par 67s: Patrick Fishburn from BYU, Mason Overstreet from the University of Arkansas, Alejandro Tosti from the University of Florida, Ryan Gronlund from the University of Oregon and Luke Schniederjans from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
May, a junior from Baylor University, shot a bogey-free round that included three birdies on his front nine (the course’s back nine) on holes 12, 14 and 15, and two birdies on his back nine, holes 2 and 7.
World No 2 Braden Thornberry, the reigning NCAA Individual champion and 2015 Patriot All-America champion, sits five shots back after an even-par 70.
Now in its seventh year, The Patriot All-America Invitational features a field of 84 PING All-America golfers from all three NCAA Divisions, NAIA and NJCAA rankings as well as from U.S. Military Academies and universities outside the United States.
Current PGA TOUR stars who have played in The Patriot All-America during their college careers include 2017 US Open champion Brooks Koepka (2011), 2017 PGA Championship winner and FedEx Cup champion Justin Thomas (2011), Patrick Rodgers (2011), Daniel Berger (2012) and Bryson DeChambeau (2013).
Mullarney and Hood were making their debuts in the event for Maynooth.
As for Hood, he believes he may have torn ligaments in his left hand.
“I had just just hit a drive and felt the pain straight away and couldn't continue,” said Hood, who had played just four holes.
Patriot All-America Invitational, The Wigwam in Litchfield Park (Par 70)
1 May, Garrett Baylor University -5 65
2 Cunningham, George University of Arizona -4 66
T3 Fishburn, Patrick Brigham Young University -3 67
T3 Gronlund, Ryan University of Oregon -3 67
T3 Tosti, Alejandro University of Florida -3 67
T3 Overstreet, Mason University of Arkansas -3 67
T3 Schniederjans, Luke Georgia Institute of Technology -3 67
T8 Paysse, Andrew Texas A&M University -2 68
T8 Cootes, Roy Pepperdine University -2 68
T8 Eckroat, Austin Oklahoma State University -2 68
T65 Mullarney, Ronan Maynooth University +5 75
WD Hood, Jordan Maynooth University
