May 20, 2003

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - UNLV freshman golfer Sunny Oh carded a first-round 78 at the NCAA Championship at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex on Tuesday.

Oh, playing as an individual and as just the first Rebel to ever play in the national tournament, carded five bogeys, a double and a birdie on the par-72, 6225-yard course.

However, scores were high throughout the day as no players shot under par and only Duke's Virada Nirapathpongporn could manage an even 72. Oh trails the Blue Devils' superstar by six shots.

Just as UNLV saw at the West Regional, Southern California put together the top team effort. The Trojans shot 17-over as a team and lead by four strokes over Oklahoma State and Ohio State.

Oh will tee off at 1:50 p.m. CDT in Wednesday's second round.