Fort Smith, Ark. -- The Missouri Southern men's golf team is in 2nd place after the first 36 holes of the Hardscrabble Invitational hosted by the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith at Hardscrabble Country Club. 

The Lions improved their round one to round two team score by 14 strokes as the team shot a 302 in the opening round and finished with a 288 in round two. 

Ben Epperly led the way for the Green and Gold as he is tied for third place individually after shooting a 75 in round one and a one-under 69 in round two. Epperly fired a pair of birdies in the opening round and hit three more in the second 18 holes. 

Logan Greer is tied for 9th after carding a 78 with a birdie in the first 18 holes and an even par 70 in the second 18. Greer hit three birdies in the second round, including a two-under par back nine. 

Tradgon McCrae is tied for 14th as the Lions have three golfers in the top 14. McCrae had a 74 in round one and a 76 in round two. Josh Hamnett and Alexander Page shot identical scores of 155 over the 36 holes to finish tied for 37th individually. 

Rogers State has the first-day lead, 18 strokes in front of the second-place Lions. Maryville is three strokes back of the Lions, while West Texas A&M and Arkansas-Fort Smith are tied for fourth. Arkansas-Monticello is sixth, followed by Texas A&M International, Northwestern Oklahoma, Regis, Howard Payne, Illinois-Springfield, Mineral Area College and State Fair CC. 

The Lions will finish the final 18 holes of the tournament, when Southern tees off at 10 am tomorrow morning.