May 30, 2002
Results
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Amidst more wet weather and another rain delay, UNLV slipped down the leaderboard at the NCAA Men's Golf Championship at Ohio State's Scarlet Course on Thursday.
The Rebels finished first-round play early Thursday morning after rain forced half of the 30-team field to suspend play on Wednesday. UNLV began the day tied for 17th place, just two strokes over par with 6-8 holes to play. That total, however, swelled to eight-over, and UNLV sat in a tie for 23rd through the first 18.
Without rest, UNLV embarked upon its second round, and although the Rebels trimmed three strokes off their first-round total, their position on the leaderboard remained unchanged. A five-over 289 in the second round left them tied for 23rd, 13 strokes over par.
Aside from a late start for the second rounds to accommodate the incomplete opening round, competitors and fans were forced to seek shelter after rain suspended play for the second straight day. The halt came at 4:39 p.m. EDT, but lasted only 46 minutes, and the field finished a long day of golf at 9:05 p.m.
In the past, the field of 30 had been trimmed to 15 after the first two rounds of play, but a new ruling in effect this year keeps all 30 teams on the course for the duration of the event. The Rebels will begin their third round at 12:45 p.m. EDT from the 10th tee, some 18 team strokes behind co-leaders Clemson and Georgia Tech.
Freshman Ryan Moore still paces UNLV. He began the day at two-under, but gave back three strokes on the wet course's back nine to finish his first round at one-over. Rebounding with a two-under 69 in the second 18, Moore now stands in a 13-way tie for 23rd place.
Senior Clark Corbett also pulled some strokes off his first-round total, shooting even after a two-over opening round. He is tied for 53rd.
Brien Davis also nipped a couple strokes off of his opening total. He was just one-over at Wednesday's suspension, but a bogey and double bogey after play resumed pushed him to four-over. He shot a two-over 73 for the second 18 and sits in 119th with a six-over total.
Brandon Askew and J.C. Deacon both struggled on Thursday. Askew carded back-to-back double bogeys at the end of play to fall to seven-over for the round and 10-over total. Deacon was slightly better, following Wednesday's 73 with a 76.
Washington's Brock Mackenzie retained his first-round lead, scoring 69 in the second round to go with a first-round 66 for a seven-under total. He has a one-stroke edge on North Carolina's Dustin Bray and TCU's Adam Rubinson.
