April 1, 2003

TUCSON, Ariz. - UNLV freshman golfer Ryan Keeney shot a final-round 74 to claim a fifth-place finish at the National Invitation Tournament on Tuesday.

The Kenmore, Wash., product scored just one-over par in his collegiate debut, played at the par-72, 7,094-yard Tucson National Golf Course, and trailed individual medalist Alejandro Canizares of Arizona State by just five strokes.

Despite the stunning debut by Keeney, the Rebels posted their worst team finish of the season. UNLV carded a final-round team score of 293 to finish 23-over par in eighth place.

Host Arizona held on to win the team title but watched its lead over New Mexico shrink from eight strokes to just four on the final day.

Sophomore All-American Ryan Moore, who will play in The Masters later this month, shaved three strokes off his total from the first two rounds and snuck into the top 20 at six-over par.

Like Moore, Travis Whisman also carded a par round on Tuesday and climbed to 28th place at eight-over. Brien Davis finished one shot behind Whisman, tied for 33rd, and JC Deacon tied for 49th at 13-over to round out the Rebels scorecard.

UNLV plays in just one more tournament before heading to its conference championship. The Rebels are slated to return to Arizona to play in the ASU Invitational in Tempe, April 12-14.