Published: May 06, 2009 12:06 am      

Bronchos move up after big day from Aneshansley

ALLENDALE, Mich.— Baer Aneshansley fired a two-under-par 69 to spark Central Oklahoma and put the Bronchos in position for a national tournament berth during second-round play in the NCAA Division II Midwest/South Central Regional Tuesday.

UCO shot a seven-over 291 at the par-71 Meadows Golf Club and is sixth in the 20-team tournament with a 586 total heading into Wednesday’s final round. The top-five teams advance to the May 19-22 national tournament in Blaine, Wash., with the No. 4-ranked Bronchos four shots out of fifth and six out of fourth.

Wayne State shot a second-round 284 and leads the tournament at 562, 10 shots ahead of Northeastern State. Ferris State is third at 578, followed by Indianapolis (580), Central Missouri (582) and UCO.

Aneshansley led the way Tuesday, with the Bronchos also getting a 73 from Zach Cleland, a 74 from Colby Shrum, a 75 from Austin Bowman and a 76 from Andrew Green.

“I can’t say enough about the way Baer played today,” UCO coach Dax Johnston said. “He just had a fabulous round that we absolutely had to have. We threw away a few shots that kept us from having a really good round, but we’re right there.

“Our whole season comes down to how we perform tomorrow. Everything we’ve worked for this year has been to get to the national tournament and I have no doubt we’ll come out tomorrow and play well.”

Aneshansley, who shot a 74 in Monday’s first round, birdied his second hole – the par-4 11th – and then reeled off six straight pars before bogeying No. 18 to make the turn at even-par 35. The Clinton sophomore made five consecutive pars on the back nine before finishing with three birdies and a bogey for his two-under round that moved him to 10th in the individual standings with a 143 total.

Cleland birdied the par-4 18th hole – his ninth -- to make the turn at one-over and kept it there until bogeying his final hole for a 73. Shrum had a second straight 74 when he bogeyed two of his last three holes.

Bowman got off to a tough start and was four-over at the turn before playing his final nine holes even-par.