May 5, 1999

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. - The top-ranked UNLV golf team shot a final-round five-over-par 293 on Wednesday to finish in second place at the 1999 Western Athletic Conference Championships, which was held at the par 72, 6,825-yard Poppy Hills Golf Course.

Brigham Young (285-290-300-875) shot a 12-over 300 during the final round and held on to capture the team championship. UNLV (292-301-293-886) finished second for the third straight season. New Mexico (299-296-302-897) finished third, San Diego State (295-304-300-899) finished fourth and TCU (300-315-291-906) rounded out the top five.

Brigham Young's Manuel Merizalde (69-70-74--213), who started the day at five under, shot a two-over 74 during the final round to capture medalist honors at three under. UNLV's Michael Kirk (69-75-73) finished second at one over, while Magnus Carlsson (72-76-70-218) of San Diego State finished third at two over.

Other Rebels competing were Jeremy Anderson (T9th/73-75-76-224), Charley Hoffman (T9th/74-72-78-224), Adam Scott (T12th/76-79-70-225) and Chris Berry (T38th/78-80-74-232).

In other Rebel golf news, Jeremy Anderson was named WAC Player of the Year, while both Anderson and Michael Kirk were selected to the all-conference squad.

UNLV's next action will be at the NCAA West Regional, May 20-22, at Tucson National Golf Club in Tucson, Ariz.

1999 WAC Championships (Final)TEAM RESULTS1.  Brigham Young   285-290-300-875 +112.  UNLV        292-301-293-886 +223.  New Mexico  299-296-302-897 +334.  San Diego State 295-304-300-899 +355.  TCU         300-315-291-906 +426.  SMU         313-309-288-910 +467.  Colorado State  309-301-301-911 +478.  Fresno State    304-312-302-918 +549.  San Jose State  302-309-306-927 +6310. Utah        310-304-314-928 +6411. Wyoming     309-317-303-929 +6512. Air Force   313-314-307-934 +7013. Hawai'i     302-321-313-936 +7214. UTEP        318-315-309-942 +7815. Rice        328-309-311-948 +8416. Tulsa       321-321-310-952 +88

TOP INDIVIDUALS1.  Manuel Merizalde, Brigham Young 69-70-74-213    -32.  Michael Kirk, UNLV          69-75-73-217    +13.  Magnus Carlsson, San Diego St   72-76-70-218    +24.  Andy Miller, Brigham Young  76-72-72-220    +4    Joel Hendry, New Mexico         73-70-77-220    +4

OTHER REBEL PLAYERST9. Jeremy Anderson 73-75-76-224    +8T9. Charley Hoffman 74-72-78-224    +8T12.    Adam Scott  76-79-70-225    +9T38.    Chris Berry 78-80-74-232    +16