NOBLESVILLE, Ind. – After 36 holes of play here at the 2022 NCAA Division II Midwest/Central Regional Tournament, McKendree University men's golf is sitting fourth place out of 20 teams after shooting an 18-over par 594 through two rounds on the rain-soaked par-72, 7,707-yard course at Purgatory Golf Club.
 
The Bearcats, who are ranked 52nd in the latest Golfstat Division II rankings, followed up their opening round 292 with a 302 in the second round that was completed Friday morning after darkness suspended play with between 3-4 holes left for the Bearcats five golfers.
 
McKendree, who is making just its second-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Golf Regionals, is one shot behind nationally No. 2 ranked and defending NCAA Division II National Champion Arkansas Tech, who has shot a 17-over par 593 through 36 holes after carding a 305 in the second round and are one shot in front of both Indianapolis and Findlay, who have each shot scores of 19-over par 595 as a team, who are tied for fifth place. McKendree will be paired in the second to last tee grouping in Saturday's final round with UIndy and Findlay.
 
Grand Valley State continues to lead the way as the Lakers followed up their opening round score of 3-under par 285 with a six-over par 294 in the second round to record a 36 hole total of 579. The Lakers lead by two shots over second place Central Missouri, who has recorded a 5-over par 581 for 36 holes.
 
The top six teams and the top two individuals not on one of those six advancing teams after Saturday's third and final round will earn a spot in the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championships, which are scheduled for May 16-20 at TPC Michigan in Dearborn, Mich.
 
Heading into Saturday's final round, the projected cut line to advance to nationals is currently at 19-over par 595. There are six teams outside the Top 6 that are within seven shots of the 19-over par and earning a spot in the National Championships.
 
Leading the way for the Bearcats through 36 holes is junior Rasmus Nilsson (Stockholm, Sweden/Danderyds Gymnasium) as he has shot an even-par 144 for 36 holes after carding back-to-back rounds of 72. In the second round, Nilsson recorded 12 pars, three birdies and three bogeys on his scorecard and finished his three holes (9-11) on Friday recording three pars on his three holes. Through two rounds of the tournament, he is tied for third in par-4 scoring at 1-under par and is averaging 3.95 on those holes and is tied for 15 in the field of 107 players with 24 pars.  
 
Grand Valley's Charles Delong holds the individual lead after 36 holes as he has carded a 4-under par 140. Delong has shot rounds of 69 and 71 respectively. Arkansas Tech's Francois Jacobs is second on the individual leaderboard as he has shot a 2-under par 142 after firing rounds of 70 and 72.
 
Overall, a total of 11 players, including Nilsson, have shot par or better through 36 holes of the Midwest/Central Regional Tournament.

The No. 2 golfer for the Bearcats through 36 holes is junior Phasin Vichitcharoenpaisarn (Bangkok, Thailand/The American School of Bangkok) as he has recorded a 5-over par 149 for 36 holes to sit in a tie for 30th place. Vichitcharoenpaisarn opened the first round with a 73, before carding a 76 in the second round. On Friday morning, he shot even par on his final three holes (8-10) that he needed to complete after darkness postponed the conclusion of the second round on Thursday. Vichitcharoenpaisarn is tied for sixth in par-4 scoring in the tournament as he has played those holes at even-par and is averaging 4.00 on those holes and is tied for seventh in the 108 player field in birdies with seven.
 
Right behind Vichitcharoenpaisarn is freshman Fabian Wennerlof (Onsala, Sweden/Katrinelundgymnasiet) as he has shot a six-over par 150 for 36 holes to sit in a tie for 39th place. Wennerlof opened the tournament with a 74 in the first round and then carded a 76 in the second round. On Friday, Wennerlof shot a 1-over par on his final three holes (10-12). In the second round, he had 10 pars, two birdies and six bogeys on his scorecard. For the tournament, Wennerlof has recorded six birdies and 18 pars and has averaged a 2-over par (4.10 average) on the course's par-4 holes.
 
The fourth golfer for the Bearcats is graduate student Will Postlethwaite (Carlisle, United Kingdom/William Howard School) as he has shot a 7-over par 151 to sit in a tie for 48th place. Postlethwaite followed up his opening round 73 with a 78 in the second round. On Friday, Postlethwaite shot even par on his final four holes (7-10). For the tournament, Postlethwaite has played the par-3 holes at even-par as he is averaging 3.00 and has had 22 pars and four birdies on his scorecard.
 
McKendree's fifth and final golfer is freshman Thomas Tollefsen (Tongsberg, Norway/Wang Toppidrett Tonsberg) as he has shot a 13-over par 157 to sit in a tie for 80th place. Tollefsen opened the tournament with a 77, but followed it up with an 80 in the second round. On Friday, Tollefsen played his final four holes (10-13) at 1-over par. For the tournament, Tollefsen is tied for seventh in par-3 scoring as he is averaging 2.88 on those holes and has played them at 1-under par and has recorded 20 pars in 36 holes.
 
The Bearcats will begin the third round of the regional championship on Saturday, May 7 by teeing off from hole No. 1 beginning at 11:50 a.m. ET with Tollefson and continuing through Nilsson, who will tee off at 12:30 p.m. ET. The final threesome tee group of Grand Valley State, Central Missouri and Arkansas Tech will begin at 12:40 p.m. through 1:20 p.m. on Saturday.