Feb. 1, 2011
Results
TUCSON, Ariz. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's golf team finished in a three-way tie for fifth place at the Arizona Invitational after finishing its second round, then playing the final round on Tuesday at Arizona National Golf Club (par 71, 6,793 yards).
Play during the second round on Monday was suspended because of darkness and resumed Tuesday morning. The Rebels ended up shooting a 3-over-par 287 for the second round, then closed the tournament with a 13-over 297 finishing at 27-over 879 for the 54-hole tournament.
San Diego State won the team title by eight shots at 7-over 859 and were followed in second place by Pepperdine with a 15-over 867. Host Arizona and Pacific each tied for third at 17-over, while a second Arizona squad and New Mexico tied with the Rebels for fifth.
A frost delay set things back over an hour early on Tuesday morning.
UNLV junior Derek Ernst led the Rebels individually with a tie for third place at 2-under 211, five shots back. Ernst ended up with a 6-under 65 for the second round, then shot a 2-over 73 during the final round. It was his second top-five finish this season - the other one was a tie for fifth at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate in October in Las Cruces, N.M.
Pepperdine's Andrew Putnam earned medalist honors Tuesday going wire-to-wire with a total of 7-under 206. Arizona's Stefan Cox finished three shots back in second at 4-under 209.
Rebel freshman Blake Biddle also finished in the top-10 as he tied for ninth at 4-over 217. Biddle shot 4-over 75 during the second round and finished with an even-par 71.
Other Rebel players, second- and third-round scores, finish and total score: sophomore Kevin Penner (74-74, T34, 10-over 223), senior Jeremiah Wooding (74-79, T51, 16-over 229), junior Colby Smith (74-81, T55, 18-over 231) and freshman Max Kraemer, who played as an individual (78-80, T83, 27-over 240).
The tournament featured 16 teams and 93 individuals.
The UNLV men's golf team will be back in action Feb. 26-27 at the Wyoming Desert Classic, which will be held in Palm Desert, Calif.
