4After 36 holes, the 23rd-ranked Minnesota men's golf team is tied for second at the Big Ten Golf Championships in Iowa City, Iowa. The Golden Gophers are tied with defending champion Northwestern at 4-under-par, four shots behind tournament leader Purdue. The Championships are being held at the par 72, 7,002-yard Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City.

The Golden Gophers struggled in round one on Friday morning shooting a six-over par 294, which left them in a tie for eighth after 18 holes. But, Minnesota sizzled in the afternoon's second round shooting a 10- under-par 278 to surge into second place.

Individually, three Gophers are in the top 10. Sophomore Justin Smith leads the tournament at 4-under-par after carding rounds of 71 and 69. Simon Nash and Wilhelm Schauman are tied for 10th place at 1-under-par. Nash shot rounds of 73 and 70 while Schauman battled back after shooting a first-round 74 with a 69 on the day's second 18 holes. Junior Matt Anderson also shook off a sluggish first round 76 with a second-round 70 to put him in a tie for 23rd at 2-over-par. David Morgan stands in 49th place with rounds of 76 and 77.

The Big Ten Championships continue tomorrow with the third round starting at 9 a.m., and conclude on Sunday with the final 18 holes beginning at 8 a.m., at the Finkbine Golf Course.

Big Ten Championships
Finkbine Golf Course
Par 72 7,002
Team Results
1. Purdue -- 279-289 = 568 (-8)
2. Minnesota -- 294-278 = 572 (-4)
2. Northwestern -- 289-283 = 572 (-4)
4. Iowa -- 291-286 = 577 (-2)
5. Michigan -- 294-284 = 578 (-1)
6. Indiana -- 293-287 = 580 (+4)
6. Ohio State -- 295-285 = 580 (+4)
8. Illinois -- 294-287 = 581 (+5)
9. Michigan State -- 291-291 = 582 (+6)
10. Penn State -- 302-295 = 597 (+21)
10. Wisconsin -- 297-300 = 597 (+21)

Minnesota Players
1. Justin Smith -- 71-69 = 140 (-4)
t10. Simon Nash -- 73-70 = 143 (-1)
t10. Wilhelm Schauman -- 74-69 = 143 (-1)
t23. Matt Anderson -- 76-70 = 146 (+2)
49. David Morgan -- 76-77 = 153 (+9)