PISCATAWAY, NJ -- University of Delaware junior Joe McLister shot a sizzling 67 during his second round Friday afternoon to move into second place and lead the Blue Hens to a fifth place team standing after the first day of the Rutgers Golf Invitational at Rutgers Golf Club.

The third and final round of the two-day tournament will get underway at the 6,337-yard, par 71 course Saturday morning.

McLister, Delaware’s top player the past two years and a competitor at the U.S. Amateur Championship this past summer, fired a 72 in his opening round Friday morning and came back with a career-best 67 in the afternoon round. His score of 67 is the second best ever in school history, just one stroke shy of the record 66 by Kevin Gallagher at the NCAA District II Tournament at Hog Neck Golf Club in Easton, MD on May 3, 1987. McLister, whose previous low was a 69 at the Goldey Beacom Invitational last March 21, shot a two-round total of 139 Friday, just two strokes shy of the Delaware record of 137 by Jim Kania in back-to-back rounds in April 20-22, 1982.

Columbia is in first place in the team standings in the 13-team field with a six under par 562, three strokes better than St. John’s at 565. Hartford and host Rutgers are tied for third at 577 followed by Delaware at 580. Longwood, Binghamton, Connecticut, Cincinnati, Villanova, and Temple round out the top 10. Columbia’s Chris Condello is the first day
leader, having fired rounds of 68 and 70 Friday to take a one-shot lead over McLister, teammate Matt Wong, and Binghamton’s Aaron Ungvarsky.

Also for Delaware, Josh Williamosky is 20th (73-72=145), Tyler Kupper is 29th (73-74=147), B.J. Jaworski is 44th (78-73=151), and Jeff Griest is 51st (76-76=152).

AGATE:

Team Standings: 1. Columbia - 282-280=562; 2. St. John’s - 287-278=565; 3. Hartford - 292-285=577, Rutgers, 288-289=577; 5. Delaware - 294-286=580; 6. Longwood - 294-290=584; 7. Binghamton - 299-286=585; 8. Connecticut - 294-297=591; 9. Cincinnati - 298-297=595, Villanova - 295-300=595, Temple, 297-298=595; 12. Seton Hall - 305-294=599; 13. Monmouth - 298-304=602.

Top Five Individuals: 1. Chris Condello (Columbia), 68-70=138; 2. Joe McLister (Delaware), 72-67=139, Matt Wong (Columbia), 70-69=139, Aaron Ungvarsky (Binghamton), 70-69=139; 5. Seth Hirschhorn (Rutgers), 66-74=140.

Delaware Competitors: 2. Joe McLister, 72-67=139; 20. Josh Williamosky, 73-72=145; 29. Tyler Kupper, 73-74=147; 44. B.J. Jaworski, 78-73=151; 51. Jeff Griest, 76-76=152.