CHAUTAUQUA, N.Y. – Jones County Junior College improved its team score by nine shots and remained in 12th place after two rounds of the NJCAA Division III Golf Championship here Wednesday at Chautauqua Golf Club.

The Bobcats posted a 336 in the second round, giving them a two-day total of 681. First-round leader Monroe Community College (N.Y.) continues to lead the tournament. MCC shot a 292 on Wednesday to give them a two-day total of 577. That is 23 strokes better than Burlington Community College (N.J), who is in second place at 600.

Individually for JCJC, West Jones sophomore Nick Keyes shot an 80 in the second round to give him a total of 166, which ties him with Bobcat teammate Mitchell Smith, a Simpson Academy freshman. Smith shot an 84 in round two. Sumrall sophomore Ben Whitehead posted an 80 to give him a 169, while Clarkdale freshman Clark Boatner shot a 92 to give him a 180. South Jones sophomore Rocky Purvis had a 93, giving him a 190.

Monroe’s Chris Malec is the leader at the halfway point. He posted a 6-under par 66 on Wednesday to go with an opening round 71, giving him a 137, 7-under par. That’s four shots better than his teammate and first-round leader Taylor Page. Page posted a second-round 73, giving him a 141, which is 3-under par. Three golfers are tied at even-par 144.

Thursday’s pairings will find Keyes with a tee time of 8:40 a.m., followed by Smith at 8:48, Whitehead at 8:56, Boatner at 9:04 and Purvis at 9:12.

The 72-hole tournament concludes on Friday.

For more information, go to www.njcaa.org or www.sunyjcc.edu.