SANDESTIN, Fla. – The Washington and Lee University men's golf team soared into first place after the second round of the 2024 Golfweek October Classic, posting a team score of -16 (268) on the par-71, 6,623-yard Raven Golf Club. The Generals now lead the field by 10 strokes with a total score of -26 (542).

W&L's 16-under-par round sets a new program record, breaking the previous mark of -12 set earlier this season at the NCAA Championships Preview.

If the October Classic tournament concluded after two rounds, the Generals would have set a new 36-hole program record. The team's mark for the lowest 36-hole tournament score is -5, set during the 2022-23 season at the Royal Lakes Invitational.

Individually, the Generals are led by Jonathan McEwen at -11, who now leads the tournament, while Elias Malakoff is tied for second at -9. Both McEwen and Malakoff fired impressive 7-under second rounds, another first in the program's history.

W&L leads a competitive field of 16 top-25 ranked teams, including teams ranked 1st-5th, and will aim to further extend its lead heading into the final round tomorrow. The Generals are scheduled to tee off at 9:10 a.m.

Team Standings (Top 3):

1. No. 6 Washington & Lee: -26 (542)
2. No. 21 Sewanee: -16 (552)
3. No. 7 Huntingdon College: -8 (560)

Player Highlights:

• Jonathan McEwen sits in first, -11 strokes under par (131) and recorded six birdies today for the second-lowest 18 holes in program history along with Elias Malakoff. Malakoff is tied for second, nine strokes under parr (133) and registered seven birdies today. 
• Charlie Krasnewich is tied for 9th, -5 (137), and carded four birdies today
• Tim Kaufman: with four birdies today and finishing two strokes over par, Kaufman is tied for 30th, +1 (143).
• Will Braxton was two strokes under par going into the final hole but finished the day even after losing a ball in the water off the tee. Braxton is tied for 58th, +4 (146).

By the Numbers:

• Par 3s: W&L averaged 2.90 (-5)
• Par 4s: W&L led the field, averaging 3.92 (-7)
• Birdies: W&L leads with 51
• W&L only scored over par on ten instances during today's round. 

Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.