TEMPE, Ariz. Freshman Ryan Hallisey shot a career-low 67 to lead the Nevada men’s golf team into a tie for 20th place after the second round of the NCAA West Regional, being held Thursday-Saturday, May 17-19 at the par 72, 7,057-yard ASU Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, Ariz.
The Wolf Pack carded a two-under 286 in Friday’s second round to move up one spot in the team standings. Nevada is tied for 20th with Denver with a two-round total of one-under 575 (289-286) and stands 18 strokes out of the top 10 heading into Saturday’s final round. The top 10 teams and top two individuals not on those teams from the NCAA West Regional will earn invitations to the 2007 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships May 30-June 2 in Williamsburg, Va.
UCLA continues to lead the 27-team NCAA West Regional after carding a 15-under 273 on Friday for a two-round total of 35-under 541 (268-273). The Bruins hold a one-stroke lead over South Carolina, which shot a 19-under 269 in the second round for a two-day total of 34-under 542 (273-269). Tournament host Arizona State and USC are tied for third at 26-under 550, while Washington and East Tennessee State are tied for fifth at 21-under 555.
“Today was the opposite of yesterday. We got off to a good start, but we were killed by the big number,” third-year head coach Rich Merritt said.
For Nevada, Hallisey made six birdies - three on the front nine and three on the back - and had just one bogey in the second round to card his career-low, five-under 67. The second-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection climbed 47 spots into a tie for 61st with a two-round total of two-under 142 (75-67).
“I started out slow today. I had pars on the first four holes, but I was patient and got it going eventually,” Hallisey said. “I started making putts and hitting some good shots. I didn’t make many mistakes today.”
“Obviously I’m very proud of Ryan Hallisey. A 67 breaks his college low. To do that on this stage as an 18-year old freshman is impressive,” said Merritt, the 2007 WAC Coach of the Year.
Fellow freshman Taylor Coffman is tied for 30th to lead the Wolf Pack with a two-round total of five-under 139. Coffman, the 2007 WAC Player and Freshman of the Year, followed up his first-round 69 with a two-under 70 on Friday, making birdies on three holes in his final nine holes. Junior James Haban is tied for 68th at one-under 143 (70-73). Sophomore Matt Rippy, a first-team All-WAC selection, is tied for 123rd with a two-round total of seven-over 151 (75-76), while junior Chase Cooper stands in a tie for 131st at nine-over 153 (75-78).
USC’s Jamie Lovemark and Arizona State’s Benjamin Alvarado are leading the NCAA West Regional heading into the final round with two-round totals of 12-under 132. Lovemark carded a tournament-low, nine-under 63 on Friday to move from 21st to a tie for first. Lovemark and Alvarado hold a one-stroke lead over Erik Flores of UCLA and Charlie Beljan of New Mexico, who are tied for third at 11-under 133.
The NCAA West Regional concludes on Saturday with tee times starting at 6:30 a.m. Pacific Time. Nevada will tee off starting at 11:42 a.m. Pacific Time and will play with Oregon and Denver in Saturday’s final round.
“The guys know our season is on the line tomorrow,” Merritt said. “Regardless of what happens, we will give it everything we’ve got tomorrow.”
Live scoring for the NCAA West Regional is available online at www.golfstat.com, while a recap of the final round also will be posted at www.nevadawolfpack.com.
