Oct. 16, 2012

Results

VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. (UNLVRebels.com) - After darkness suspended play on Monday, the No. 11 UNLV men's golf team finished up its second round on Tuesday morning with an 8-over 288, then shot a final-round 10-over 290 to finish in fourth place at the 12-team Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, which was played at Old Overton Golf Club (par 70, 7,204 yards).

The Rebels' finished the 54-hole tournament at 28-over 868, 11 shots back of team champion and host Alabama. The Crimson Tide won the title by four shots at 17-over 857. Florida was second at 21-over, followed by Auburn at 27-over, then UNLV. Clemson rounded out the top five at 30-over.

It was UNLV's third top-four finish in four total events this fall.

Alabama's Justin Thomas shot 6-under 64 during the second round and a final-round even-par 70 to earn medalist honors by a shot at 2-under 208. Auburn's Michael Johnson finished second at 1-under 209.

UNLV was led by junior Blake Biddle, who finished tied for fourth at 2-over 212. He shot 1-over 71 for both the second and final rounds. Senior Kevin Penneralso recorded a top-10 finish as he tied for sixth at 4-over 214. He shot 3-under 67 during the second round and 1-over 71 in the final round.

The fourth-place finish was a season high for Biddle, who finished tied for sixth at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational. Penner recorded his third-straight top-10 finish. He tied for second at the PING/Golfweek Preview Invitational and tied for ninth at the Jack Nicklaus Invitational.

Other UNLV players: freshman AJ McInerney tied for 11th at 8-over 218 after a second-round 6-over 76 and a final-round 3-over 73, sophomore Carl Jonson tied for 31st at 15-over 225 after shooting three straight rounds of 5-over 75, and sophomore Kurt Kitayamatied for 49th at 23-over 233 after a second-round 5-over 75 and a final-round 9-over 79.

There were a total of 60 individuals.

The Rebels will be back in action Oct 22-23 at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate in Las Cruces, N.M.