Sandestin, Fla. – The Chanticleers followed their first round 278, -6 under par, on Sunday with a second round 280, -4 under par, on Monday to put themselves in a tie for second-place overall at 558, -10 under par, after two days of play at the 2019 Sun Belt Men’s Golf Championship at the Raven Golf Club in Sandestin, Fla.

Coastal Carolina is tied for second with Georgia Southern (558, -10) and a meager three strokes behind clubhouse team leader No. 28 Arkansas State (555, -13).

Little Rock (562, -6) and UT Arlington (563, -5) round out the top-five on the team leaderboard.

“We are lucky to only be three back heading into the final round of play tomorrow as we did not play well today,” stated head coach Jim Garren. “Morgan did a nice job battling today to get a -2 under par and Zack was okay. He didn’t finish well but still had a decent round. We need a big day tomorrow.”

Junior Zack Taylor paced the Chants on Monday, as he posted a Coastal low-round 68, -3 under par, to climb up into a tie for sixth-place overall at 139, -3 under par (71-68). The Pittsburgh, Pa. native, shot a 33, -3 under par, on the back nine to start his day, and then carded a 35, even par, on the front nine, highlighted by an eagle on the par-4 hole number five. He also had five birdies on the day.

Also in a tie for sixth-place overall heading into the final round of stroke play on Tuesday is senior Wes Artac with his 36-hole score of 139, -3 under par (67-72). The senior followed his first round 67, -4 under par, on Sunday with a second round 72, +1, on Monday. The Texas native had two birdies, six pars and a double-bogey on the back nine to start the day, then shot a 36, +1, with one birdie and two bogeys on the front side to end his day with a round of 72.

Chants’ junior States Fort is also in the top-10 after two rounds of play, as he is tied for 10th with his 36-hole score of 140, -2 under par (69-71). Fort was one under on the back nine with two birdies and one bogey before he wrapped up his day with a 36, +1, on the front nine for his second round score of 71, even par. He totaled three birdies and 14 pars over his 18 holes on Monday.

Just behind Taylor’s 68 on Monday, was Morgan Deneen with his round of 69, -2 under par. The senior shot a team-high five birdies over his second round of play and dropped four strokes off his first round 73, +2. With his rounds of 73 and 69, Deneen is in a tie for 17th overall with his 36-hole score of 142, even par, heading into the final round of play on Tuesday.

Rounding out the lineup for the Chants is senior Luis Ruiz. Ruiz posted a second round 74, +3, and when added to his first round 71, even par, he is tied for 35th overall with his 36-hole score of 145, +3. The fourth-year Chant struggled on the back nine to start the round, shooting a 39, +3, but bounced back to shoot a 35, even par, on the front nine to close out his day.

The Chants will tee off the final round of stroke play tomorrow at 8:15 a.m. CT and will again play with No. 28 Arkansas State and Georgia Southern.