GREENVILLE, S.C. – Justin Griffith shot a career-best 69 during the second round of the Furman Invitational at the Furman University Golf Club on Saturday.  The two-under round moved him into a tie for 16th place after 36 holes at two-over 144.

The junior from Pittsburgh shot three-under on the back nine, with birdies on 11, 12 and 15 and six pars. He opened the day with a birdie on the first hole and carded a one-over 36 on the front 9 before the three birdies in five holes. On the day, he made four birdies, had 12 pars and just two bogeys.

"It was great to see it happen for him. We have been talking the last few weeks about the fact that he has put in so much work and there was a good round coming, just be patient," Towson head coach Mike Larkin said. "What he said about today was it was one of the most patient rounds of his life. Both his bogeys were three putts. On 10, I said to him that a lot of the tour players have rounds like this when nothing is really going and then all of a sudden the floodgates open. That is what happen for Justin. He had a two-putt birdie on 11 and then two more. When I talked to him after the round he did say the floodgates opened."

It is the third under par round for Griffith as a Tiger, who has made the travel roster for all 19 tournaments since arriving at Towson. His previous low was a two-under 70 at the Fort Lauderdale Intercollegiate on March 3, 2020.

After two days, he has seven birdies, 20 pars and nine bogeys.

"It is just nice to see that the work he has been putting in has been the right work," added Larkin. "He could feel it in his golf swing and he could feel it but it had not been there in the results. It all came together today and for him validates all the work that he has been doing."

Griffith was one of three Tigers to shoot 75 in the opening round Friday. Jeremy Summerson followed up his 75 with a 76 Saturday, while Brad Riley carded a 79.  

Jackson Courtney (76) and freshman Branden Nguyen (78) improved by a combined 10 shots from the opening round.  

The 51^st Furman Invitational features 17 teams from nine states. The Tigers top four players shot a combined 299, six shots better than Friday. 

Sunday's final round features a 9 a.m. shotgun start for all 102 golfers.

TOURNAMENT DETAILS 
Host: Furman
Location: Greenville, S.C.  
Dates: March 26-28, 2021 
Course: Furman University Golf Club – 6,984 yards; par 71