March 22, 2011

Results

TUCSON, Ariz. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV men's golf team shot a final-round 3-over-par 291 on Tuesday and finished in sixth place at the National Invitational Tournament, which was played at Omni Tucson National Golf Club. UNLV played its first and third rounds on the Catalina Course (par 72, 7,245 yards) and its second round on the Sonoran Course (par 70, 6,652 yards).

Tulsa won the team title with an 11-over 867 after a final-round-low 5-under 283. SMU finished second at 18-over, seven shots back, while host Arizona came in third at 20-over. Indiana and TCU tied for fourth at 26-over, while UNLV finished at 28-over 884. The tournament featured 15 teams and 95 individuals.

Arizona's Jonathan Khan won medalist honors by just a shot at 4-under 201 after a final-round 1-over 72. Tulsa's Stephen Carney came in second at 3-under, Wyoming's Gabe Maier was third at 2-under, and UNLV sophomore Kevin Penner and TCU's Tom Hoge both tied for fourth at 1-under 213. Penner shot a final-round 71.

Penner's fourth-place finish marked his second top-five effort in his last three tournaments. He tied for medalist honors at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate in February, and the NIT marked the fourth top-five finish of his career.

UNLV freshman Blake Biddle finished tied for 23rd at 8-over 222 after a final-round 74, junior Derek Ernst finished tied for 26th at 9-over 223 after a final-round 72, junior Colby Smith tied for 61st at 17-over 231 after a final-round 74 and senior Jeremiah Wooding tied for 84th at 24-over 238 after a final-round 83.

UNLV will be back in action April 9-10, at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational in Tempe, Ariz.