Golfers In Tie For Fifth At UNM Tucker

                ALBUQUERQUE — The University of Colorado men's golf team, competing for the second time in three days, stands in a tie for fifth place following the completion Friday of the first two rounds of the University of New Mexico's William H. Tucker Intercollegiate.

                UNLV, which also held the first round lead at midday, finished 36 holes with a 14-under par 562 team score, good for a three stroke lead over BYU (565). Pepperdine is in third (568) with Arkansas fourth (571) and Colorado and host New Mexico tied for fifth (2-under 574). CU was in an out of the top spot through much of the morning round before ending it in second place (with a 3-under 285).

                The Buffaloes are attempting to win for the second time this week as well as the third time this month, and "ditto" for a CU individual.

                Junior Daniel O'Loughlin, who earlier this month won the Air Force Miranda Invitational, is in third place after posting identical 69s scores for a 6-under 138 on the 7,555-yard, par-72 UNM Championship Course design. After recording 10 birdies and 22 pars against just four bogeys, he's just three strokes out of the lead.

                Freshman Kristoffer Max, who played his best golf earlier in the week in CU's Simpson Invitational, continued his solid play with a 72-73—145 effort (1-over par), tying him for 26th place. He had a fairly consistent day with five birdies, 25 pars and six bogeys.

                Another CU frosh, John Paterson, is tied for 32nd after turning in a 71-75—146 performance (2-over). He had seven birdies and 21 pars, and was set to finish even on the day before closing with an unfortunate double bogey on his last hole (No. 9).

                Junior Ross Macdonald and sophomore Trevor Olkowski are tied for 39th after recording 3-over 147 scores (each with a 73 and 74 on the day, in reverse order). The Buffs were one of three teams with multiple eagles Friday, and Macdonald and Olkowski each recording one.

                Junior Andre Leveque is competing here as an individual, so his scores don't count toward the CU team total. He opened with a 74 but came back to record CU's best single score of the day – a 4-under 68, which was also his collegiate best as a Buffalo. He had 11 birdies Friday, including eight in the second round, a team best for the young season for as single round. Leveque started on No. 16, and would end his day with three straight birdies in posting a 31 on that back nine.

                "Overall I thought it was a good day despite losing a few shots late where we finished on some tough holes," CU head coach Roy Edwards said. "Everyone had good moments and Daniel was particularly good. What a good two rounds by Andre as well in his first road trip as a Buff. We were patient and guys really committed to their game plans. Along with being competitive I was impressed by that."

                UNLV's Harry Hall is the leader through 36 holes after a 7-under effort of 67-68—135; BYU's Peter Kuest is one stroke back (68-69—137). They joined O'Loughlin as the only players in the field to score in the 60s both rounds.

                The third and final round is set for Saturday morning with an 8 a.m. shotgun start; the Buffaloes will be paired with New Mexico, San Diego State and Wyoming.

BUFFALO INDIVIDUALS (*—playing as individual)

3. Daniel O'Loughlin............................. 69-69—138
T8. *Andre Leveque............................... 74-68—142
T26. *Kristoffer Max.................................. 72-73—145
T32. John Paterson.................................. 71-75—146
T39. Trevor Olkowski................................ 73-74—147
T39. Ross Macdonald............................... 74-73—147

TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS

1. Harry Hall, UNLV............................... 67-68—135
2. Peter Kuest, BYU............................... 68-69—137
3. Daniel O'Loughlin, Colorado........... 69-69—138
4. Joe Highsmith, Pepperdine.............. 71-68—139
5. Sam Choi, New Mexico.................... 72-68—140

TEAM SCORES

1. Nevada-Las Vegas.................. 279-283—562
2. BYU.......................................... 286-279—565
3. Pepperdine............................. 291-277—568
4. Arkansas.................................. 288-283—571
5. COLORADO............................ 285-289—574
5. New Mexico............................ 297-277—574
7. San Diego State...................... 292-285—577
8. Wyoming................................ 293-290—583
9. Denver..................................... 296-294—590
10. Coastal Carolina...................... 296-295—591
10. New Mexico State.................. 291-300—591
12. Nebraska................................. 297-300—597
13. Loyola Marymount................. 298-303—601
13. Colorado State........................ 299-302—601
15. Texas-Arlington...................... 300-303—603
15. Texas-El Paso......................... 302-301—603
17. Air Force.................................. 304-302—606

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Players Mentioned

Andre Leveque

Ross Macdonald

Kristoffer Max

Daniel O'Loughlin

Trevor Olkowski

John Paterson