March 27, 2006
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -
Monday's results
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It only makes sense that the road to the NCAA regional golf tournament has Lamar standing in the way for the UT Arlington men's golf team.
UT Arlington fired a second-round score of five-over-par 293 after an opening round one-over 289 to stand in a first-place tie with Lamar after the opening day of the UALR/First Tee Invitational at the Chenal Country Club here Monday.
Lamar is the dominate program in the Southland Conference for the past decade. UT Arlington, the defending conference champion, is trying to make for itself as one of the top golf programs in the country with a repeat trip to the NCAA regionals and their third trip since 1999.
To do that the Mavericks must place higher than Lamar in this tournament and the final tune up before the Southland Conference Championships - the St. Mary's Invitational. Or the Mavs can punch their ticket to the NCAA's by defending their conference championship at Kingwood, Texas, April 16-19, to receive the league' automatic berth in the field.
UTA led after their opening round score of 289, but Lamar turned in back-to-back rounds of 291 to tie the Mavericks and set the head-to-head match up Tuesday.
"We are very thankful that we have put overselves in a position to win the tournament," said UTA Men's Golf Coach Jay Rees. "We played consistent golf today and it could not have come at a better time."
North Texas carded the lowest round of the tournament (286) in the afternoon to stand in third with a 586. Houston (587) stands five shots behind the leaders after an afternoon score of even-par 288.
The rest of the top 10 teams include: Middle Tennessee State (603), Missouri (605), Louisiana-Monroe (605), Oral Roberts (606), Arkansas State (607) and Eastern Michigan and Sam Houston State (608).
Sophomore Zack Reeves fired a two-round total of one-over-par 143. Senior Tyrone Mordt is tied for eighth place after rounds of 71 and 74. Ryan Zamorano (71-75-146) is tied for tenth. Junior Marc Campbell turned in an even-par 72 in the afternoon and stands at 149. Michael Douthit is at 153 after a 79 and 74.
Chris Myers turned in rounds of 75 and 79 as a medalist for UTA.
North Texas' Austin Welch had two rounds of 70 to lead the medalist competition.
Tuesday's final round begins at 8 a.m.
