For the second straight day, a true freshman paced Western Kentucky’s men’s golf with a career-best round at the Mesquite Desert Classic in Mesquite, Nevada.

On Monday, it was Rafe Blankenship’s turn, as the Scottsville native fired a 4-under par 68 to move 25 spots up the leaderboard into the top 20.

Overall, WKU men’s golf was still tied for sixth after a 3-under 285 on Monday at Casablanca Resort & Casino. The Hilltoppers are 1-under through 36 holes.

Individually, freshman Trevor Drew was fourth at 7-under following a 2-under 70 in the second round. He trails Eastern Kentucky’s Anders Larson by three shots.

Drew and teammate Nic Hofman are the top two scorers in the field on the par 3s. Drew has played those holes at 4-under and Hofman at 2-under. Stephen Warren is 1-under on the par 3s, as well.

Drew’s 14 birdies through two rounds are the most in the field by two. He made seven birdies for the second straight round.

Blankenship’s 10 birdies are tied for sixth most. He made six on Monday against just two bogeys.

WKU”s Gage Doyle has tallied 24 pars through 36 holes, tied for fifth best in the field.

WKU was 3-under on the par 3s through 36 holes, the only school in the entire 12-team field under par on such holes. Conversely, the Tops are only 4-under on the par 5s, last in the field.

The Tops have 110 pars as a team, third-most in the field, and 35 birdies through two rounds.

The Hilltoppers are back in action on Tuesday for the third and final round, which will be a shotgun start at 11 a.m. CT.

TEAM LEADERBOARD (12 teams)

1. Eastern Kentucky | 283-273—556 (-20)

2. Utah Valley | 284-277—561 (-15)

3. Utah Tech | 284-281—565 (-11)

4. Cal Poly | 291-275—566 (-10)

5. Seattle | 278-291—569 (-7)

T6. Western Kentucky | 290-285—575 (-1)

INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD (64 individuals)

1. Anders Larson (Eastern Kentucky) | 69-65—134 (-10)

4. Trevor Drew (ind.) | 67-70—137 (-7)

T12. Stephen Warren | 70-72—142 (-2)

T18. Rafe Blankenship | 75-68—143 (-1)

T24. Nic Hofman | 71-73—144 (E)

T40. Gage Doyle | 75-72—147 (+3)

T48. Hayden Warren | 74-75—149 (+5)