CRESWELL, Ore. – After a slow start to the Duck Invitational, a strong second round has the University of San Francisco men's golf team in contention sitting in a tie at seventh place.  The Dons finished the opening 36-holes with a 17-over 593 (300-293) at the par-72 Emerald Valley Golf Club.
 
USF opened the tournament with a 12-over 300 in the opening round, USF had just one player in the top-20 after the first 18 holes.  In the afternoon round, USF caught fire.  The Dons carded 15 birdies and one eagle as a team while climbing four spots on the leaderboard.
 
"Today was just a flat out battle verse a tough course in very tough conditions," said head coach Jack Kennedy. "We played our way back into it late this afternoon and are poised for a big run tomorrow."
 
The tandem of Toby Briggs and Soren Lind led the Dons after 36 holes with both sophomores cracking the top-25. Briggs rose 53 spots on the leader board after the first round, after opening the tournament with a 5-over 77.  In the second round he shot a 4-under 68 to finish the day with a 1-over 145.  After not recording a birdie in the first round, Briggs finished with three birdies and an eagle.  He was just one of three players to record an eagle on the first day.
 
Lind battled the tough conditions all afternoon and turned a pair of strong rounds.  After opening the tournament in 20^th he slid back four spots to finish the day tied for 24^th with a 3-over 147 (73-74). 
 
Freshman Christoffer Palsson is in third for the Dons after the first day.  He finished the afternoon with a 5-over 149 (74-75) to finish tied at 36^th.  Palsson carded seven birdies on the day, which is tied for seventh most in the tournament. 
 
Tim Widing sits in fourth for the Dons.  He opened the tournament with back-to-back 76's to finish with an 8-over 152.  Alex Chin is in fifth for the Dons, he finished the day with a 13-over 157 (81-76) which has him sitting in a tie at 76^th.
 
Oregon State and tournament host Oregon are tied at first on the team leaderboard with 1-over 577s.  Hawaii's Cameron Kaneko is the individual leader after the first day, with a 4-under 140 (71-69). 
 
The Dons will wrap up the tournament tomorrow morning with the final round, USF is set to tee off at 8:15 a.m.