May 2, 2001

Box Score

SUNRIVER, Ore. - The UNLV men's golf team turned in the best single-round team total on the final day of the Mountain West Conference Championships and improved from seventh place to fifth, firing a two-over par 290 at the Crosswater Course at Sunriver Resort on Wednesday.

The Rebels, last year's MWC champion, battled harsh weather throughout the tournament and recorded team round of 316, 307 and 290 to finish at 49-over par, 23 strokes behind champion BYU. San Diego State's John Lepak claimed medalist honors at three-over par.

Despite struggling through the first two rounds of the competition, UNLV rebounded on Wednesday with a 71, three 73s and a 75.

Sophomore Brien Davis carded the Rebels' only sub-par round of the tourney, shooting a 71 to finish tied for 22nd overall, 16-over par.

UNLV's individual leader was freshman Travis Whisman, who fired a 73 on Wednesday to climb into a tie for 11th place.

Senior Scott Lander turned in a 75 for the second straight round and finished at 14-over. Although his score didn't count toward the Rebels' final-round team total, it was good for an overall 18th-place finish.

Lander, who entered the tournament as the MWC's leader in stroke average, was also one of six players selected to the All-Mountain West Conference team, announced after Wednesday's round was completed. Also garnering kudos was freshman James Oh, who was voted by the league's coaches as the MWC Freshman of the Year.

Oh and sophomore Calvin Kupeyan rounded out the UNLV lineup, both carding 73 on Wednesday to finish 32nd and 30th respectively.

The Rebels await an invitation to the NCAA West Regional Championships, scheduled for Trysting Tree Golf Course in Corvallis, Ore., on May 17-19. The NCAA will announce the field of teams selected in a conference call on Tuesday, May 8.