May 21, 2004

SUNRIVER, Ore. - UNLV junior golfer Ryan Moore shot a 71 to move within one stroke of the lead after two rounds of play at the NCAA West Regional on Friday.

While Moore is in position to advance to the NCAA Championship, the Rebels will have to make a serious surge in the final round if the team is to join him. With a team round of 292, UNLV is 16-over-par and trails both Washington and San Diego State by nine strokes.

The Huskies and the Aztecs are tied for ninth and occupy the final two team qualifying spots from the Regional.

New Mexico is the team that sits comfortably atop the leaderboard. The Lobos are six-under par and hold a one-stroke lead over UCLA.

UNLV is tied for 17th in the 27-team field at the par-72, 7,579-yard Crosswater Course at Sunriver Resort. Even if the Rebels do not finish as one of the top 10 teams in the field, Moore could qualify as an individual if he can hold his position.

Individually, four players share the lead and five others trail by only a stroke. UCLA's Travis Johnson followed his opening round 66 with a one-over 73, opening the door for BYU's Oscar Alvarez and the Arizona duo of Henry Liaw and Chris Nallen. All four players are tied at five-under.

Moore joins four others just one stroke off the pace, and all of the top 20 check in under par heading into Saturday's final round.

While Moore sits highest on the leaderboard, it was sophomore Ryan Keeney who led the Rebels on the day. Keeney shed eight strokes from his opening round to fire a two-under 70 and is tied for 58th place at four-over.

Rounding out the team total were Andres Gonzales with a 74 and Sam Hunt with a 77, accounting for the team's 292. Travis Whisman shot 80 and was discarded.

Final round tee times will begin at 8:30 a.m.