36-holThe 22nd-ranked University of Minnesota men's golf team fired a 5-under par 283 today in the second round of the Big Ten Championships in Madison, Wis. and stand in third place overall with a 36-hole tally of 568 (8-under par). The Gophers trail Michigan State and Indiana by 10 strokes overall heading into tomorrow's final round. Northwestern and Purdue are tied for fourth, six shots behind the Gophers at 574 (2- under par). Sophomore Niall Turner is the top Gopher individually in sixth place at 3- under par after shooting rounds of 70-71.

The Gophers received a pair of 3-under par 69s from sophomore Bronson La'Cassie and junior Josh Persons in the second round. La'Cassie recorded three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 16th hole. Persons had four birdies on the front nine en route to a 33 and came home in an even-par 36. La'Cassie is in a tie for ninth place overall at 1- under 143 while Persons recovered from a 77 yesterday and now stands in a tie for 22nd at 2-over 146.

Turner went under par for the second straight round with a 1-under 71. He had two birdies on the day, bringing his 36-hole tally to a team-high 10. After a blistering 4- under 68 yesterday, senior Ben Greve shot 74, putting him in a tie for seventh overall at 2-under (142). Senior Ryan Paulson rounded out the Gopher lineup with a 2-over 74. He recorded three birdies on the day and is in a tie for 32nd at 3-over (147).

Indiana's Jeff Overton leads the individual medalist race at 14-under after firing 65 in each of the first two rounds. Michigan State's Ryan Brehm is second at 11-under.

The Gophers finished third at last year's Big Ten Championships after winning the title in 2002 and 2003.

The final round begins tomorrow morning at 8 a.m., at the par 72, 6,888-yard University Ridge Golf Course.

Big Ten Men's Golf Championships Results After Round Two T1. Indiana 283-275–-558 (-18) T1. Michigan State 282-276--558 (-18) 3. Minnesota 285-283--568 (-8) T4. Northwestern 294-280--574 (-2) T4. Purdue 292-282--574 (-2) T6. Ohio State 290-294--584 (+8) T6. Michigan 298-286--584 (+8) T8. Iowa 296-289--585 (+9) T8. Wisconsin 292-293--585 (+9) 10. Penn State 296-290--586 (+10) 11. Illinois 300-295--595 (+19) Minnesota Scores 6. Niall Turner 70-71--141 (-3) T7. Ben Greve 68-74--142 (-2) T9. Bronson La'Cassie 74-69--143 (-1) T22. Josh Persons 77-69--146 (+2) T32. Ryan Paulson 73-74--147 (+3)