BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — The Indian Springs Country Club course proved no match for the Harding men's golf team on Monday, as the Bisons unleashed a historic 12-under 276—one of the best rounds in program history—to surge into second place at the Tulsa Cup. Fueling the charge is junior Dennis Staykov, whose 9-under performance gives him a two-stroke individual lead entering the final round.
The Bisons' blistering 12-under 276 is their best round versus par this season and is tied for the fifth-best score in program history. Harding is currently 16-under 560 for the tournament.
The team's phenomenal second round keeps them in close contention with No. 14-ranked Central Missouri, which leads the field at 19-under 557. Arkansas-Fort Smith sits eight strokes back in third place at 8-under 568.
No. 40-ranked Staykov established himself as the man to beat after firing a flawless 6-under 66 in the first round, matching his season-best score with six birdies and no bogeys. He followed up with a 3-under 69 in the second round, giving him a 9-under 135 total and a two-stroke lead over Minnesota State's Hogan Ordal and his own teammate, Jose Arzu.
Arzu, a junior, put together back-to-back strong rounds, shooting 3-under 69 and a career-best 4-under 68 in the second round. Arzu is tied for second place individually at 7-under 137, giving Harding two golfers at the top of the leaderboard.
The Bisons' collective success was bolstered by other season-best performances:
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Senior Jose Manuel Peralta carded a season-best 4-under 68 in the second round, improving seven strokes from his opening 75. He currently sits tied for 18th at 1-under 143.
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Sophomore Austin Bibb shot a season-best 1-under 71 in the second round to move into a tie for 29th at 1-over 145.
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Junior Conner Geist also posted a 1-under 71 in round two, highlighted by six birdies, placing him tied for 44th at 3-over 147.
The tournament is being played at the par-72, 6,893-yard Indian Springs County Club. Weather conditions were favorable, with cloudy skies, a high of 65 degrees, and a mild 5 mph wind out of the northeast.
The final round is set to tee off Tuesday at 9 a.m.
