March 17, 2003

AIKEN, S.C. ...The University of Texas at Arlington's golf team will head into the final round of the Cleveland Golf Collegiate Championships in Aiken, S.C., looking to move up after finishing in a second-place tie on the tournament's rain-soaked first day.

The Mavericks, along with Kansas and host South Carolina-Aiken, are stalking tournament leader College of Charleston, who leads by three strokes with just 18 holes to play.

The field of 15 teams played just one round, after the second round was washed away by the day's heavy rains. That round will not be made up, so the tournament will be shortened to 36 holes.

The Mavericks were strong on the first day, with three UTA players turning in cards with scores that were among the top 18 totals. The Mavs' Tyrone Mordt and Landon Allen fired rounds of 72 to find themselves in a 10-way logjam for eighth place, while teammate Anthony Estorga was just one shot behind those players and in a seven-way tie for 18th place. Rounding out UTA's scores were Jordan Krantz, tied for 25th with a first-round 74; and Brandon Mullen, who is in a tie for 46th place after shooting 76.

Aaron Black of South Carolina-Aiken leads all individuals, shooting a first-round 68 to take a one-stroke advantage of Vanderbilt's Mark Donnell into the final round.

College of Charleston shot 288 to take a three stroke lead over UTA, Kansas and USC-Aiken, who each shot 291 as a team. Furman and South Carolina are tied for fifth after each shooting 293. Maryland and Vanderbilt fired rounds of 294 to tie for seventh after the first round, while Virginia Commonwealth finds itself in ninth place with a 296 and South Florida shot 299 to round out the top 10.

Tee times for the final round begin at 8:30 a.m. eastern time Tuesday, but UTA won't send its first player to the tee box until 11:26 a.m. eastern time. The Mavericks will be playing with host USC-Aiken and current leader College of Charleston.

TEAM STANDINGS (1st of 2 Rounds...Final Round Tuesday)
1. College of Charleston, 288
2. TEXAS-ARLINGTON, 291
2. Kansas, 291
2. USC-Aiken, 291
5. Furman, 293
5. South Carolina, 293
7. Maryland, 294
7. Vanderbilt, 294
9. Virginia Commonwealth, 296
10. South Florida, 299
11. Florida State, 300
12. Tulane, 303
13. Texas Tech, 304
13. Presbyterian College, 304
15. Georgia State, 305

TEXAS-ARLINGTON, 291 (Currently tied for second)
T8. Tyrone Mordt, 72
T8. Landon Allen, 72
T18. Anthony Estorga, 73
T25. Jordan Krantz, 74
T46. Brandon Mullen, 76