FLORENCE, Ala. – The Carson-Newman Eagles men's golf team shot a combined score of 24-over-par 600 (302-298) for a third place standing through the first two rounds at the TVA Credit Union Classic at Turtle Point Yacht and Country Club on Monday.

While the Eagles are in third place entering Tuesday's play, Carson-Newman is 15 strokes behind Columbus State for second and 20 shots behind host North Alabama for first place.

"It wasn't spectacular but we're in a good spot," said Carson-Newman head coach John Minor. "We're several shots behind first and second. We really played one particular par-3 quite poorly as a team and we have to do better than that. I'll challenge them tomorrow and see how it goes. It's a beautiful golf course, beautiful weather, and we're really close but not quite there yet."

 The top scorer for the Eagles in the first two rounds came from senior Jonathan Kim-Moss (Mississauga, Canada) with his 3-over-par 147. He is in a tie for fifth place in the tournament, eight strokes off the leader Robert Mize of Columbus State who turned in a 5-under-par 139.

Just behind Kim-Moss in a tie for seventh place is Carson-Newman senior Rafael Jackson (Rutledge, Tenn.). Jackson, after turning in a 5-over-par 77 in the first round, came back with a 1-under-par 71 in the second round, the strongest round of any Eagle during Monday's play.

"He just started striking the ball better and got some confidence," Minor said when asked about the difference between Jackson's first and second round.

"36 holes is a physical and mental test for sure but he definitely played better in the second round. I was proud of him for doing it, hopefully he'll be confident going into tomorrow."

 Carson-Newman sophomore Corey Bray (Caryville, Tenn.) is in a tie for seventeenth after turning in back-to-back rounds of 75 for a 6-over-par 150.

Tied for 34th place is Eagle sophomore Nicklaus Kennedy (London, Ontario, Canada) with his rounds of 77 and 78 for an 11-over-par 155.

Freshman Dalton Reese (Warrenton, Ga.) is in a tie for 57th after rounds of 82 and 79 for a 17-over-par 161.

Play at the TVA Credit Union Classic will conclude tomorrow with the third and fourth rounds at Turtle Point Country Club.