PLYMOUTH, Ind. - The Kirkwood men's golf team climbed five spots in  the standings Wednesday and is sitting in third place after 36 holes  of the NJCAA Division II national tournament at Swan Lake Resort.

Walters State leads the tournament at 12-over-par 588. South Mountain  is in second place at 594 and Kirkwood is third at 31-over 607,  trailing Walters State by 19 shots.

The 72-hole tournament continues Thursday and Friday.

James Morgan fired a 1-under-par 71 to lead Kirkwood Wednesday. The  Eagles are bunched together with Ben Epperly at 6-over 150, Ryan  Morrison at 7-over 151, Morgan at 8-over 152 and Will Babcock at  10-over 154. Epperly is tied for fourth place.

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Walters State 588, 2. South Mountain 594, 3. Kirkwood 607, 4. Black  Hawk 609, 5. Mississippi Gulf Coast 615, 6. Abraham Baldwin 620, 7.  Meridian 625, 8. Parkland 626, 9. Murray State 629, 10. (tie)  Scottsdale 630, Rend Lake 630, Tyler 630, 13. DMACC 631, 14. Southwestern 635, 15. Grand Rapids 643, 16. Mott  646, 17. Oakland 649, 18. Southeast 666, 19. Lake County 672, 20.  Buck's County 680, 21. Southern Maryland 707.

KIRKWOOD: 4. Ben Epperly 72-78=150, 15. Ryan Morrison 76-75=151, 18.  James Morgan 81-71=152, 27. Will Babcock 79-75=154, 56. Dawson Peters  81-78=159.