April 8, 2005

Results

TEMPE, Ariz. - The UNLV men's golf team leads the field after the first 36 holes of play at the 33rd Annual ASU Thunderbird Invitational held Friday at the ASU Karsten Golf Course (par 71, 7,025 yards).

The Rebels shot a 5-under par 563 (274-289) and lead Pepperdine (285-284--569, +1) by six strokes. UNLV opened play with a tournament-best 10-under 274 in the opening round.

Host Arizona State (286-287--573, +5), who has won the event five of the past six years, is in third, while Arizona (282-292--574, +6) and Colorado State (285-289--574, +6) are tied for fourth.

Travis Whisman (67-73--140, -2) shot an opening-round 4-under 67 and leads the Rebels at 2-under after two rounds. Whisman is in a tie for fourth place.

Arizona's Nathan Lashley (68-70--138, -4) and Kipp Riehle (69-69--138, -4) lead the tournament by a stroke over Pepperdine's Brian O'Flaherty (71-68--139, -3). Riehle is competing as an individual.

Andres Gonzales (68-73--141, -1) is the only other Rebel in the top 10 as he is in a six-way tie for sixth place, three shots off the lead.

Other Rebel players are Ryan Keeney (72-70--142, E; T12th), Jarred Texter (69-73--142, E; T12th) and J.C. Deacon (70-74--144, +2; T24th).

UNLV has never won the ASU Thunderbird Invitational, which began in 1973.

The tournament concludes on Saturday with 18 holes.