Sept. 15, 2017
Results| Videos| @UNLVGolf
OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill (UNLVRebels.com) - The No. 12 UNLV men's golf team shot an opening-round 5-over-par 285 Friday at the Olympia Fields Country Club/Fighting Illini Invitational, which is being played at the North Course (par 70, 7,300 yards) at Olympia Fields CC.
The tough early-season tournament features 10 of the nation's top 20-ranked teams at a course that has been home to several premier events including the 2015 U.S. Amateur. It has also hosted two U.S. Opens, three PGA Championships, five Western Opens and a U.S. Senior Open among other high-level tournaments.
No. 19 Alabama, No. 1 Oklahoma State and No. 4 Baylor are in a three-way tie for first at even-par 280. The Rebels are just five shots back in eighth.
Oklahoma State's Zach Bauchou is the individual leader by two shots at 6-under 64. UNLV senior Shintaro Ban leads all Rebel players in a tie for sixth at 2-under 68.
STAT OF THE DAY: Ban had six birdies during Friday's 18-hole round, including back-to-back twice (holes 4-5 & 13-14).
REBEL OF THE DAY: Ban currently sits in the top 10 at the 78-player event. He is four shots off the lead after a first-round 2-under 68.
COMPLETE REBEL SCORES:
• T6th -- Shintaro Ban, senior (2-under 68)
• T24th -- Jack Trent, freshman (71, +1)
• T27th -- Harry Hall, junior (72, +2)
• T45th -- Yash Majmudar, sophomore (74, +4)
• T71st -- Justin Kim, sophomore (79, +9)
• T71st -- J.J. Gresco *, freshman (79, +9)
*playing as an individual
TOP FIVE TEAMS:
1. Alabama (280, E)
2. Oklahoma State (280, E)
3. Baylor (280, E)
4. Texas A&M (281, +1)
5. Florida State (282, +2)
8. UNLV (285, +5)
REBEL NOTES:
• UNLV finished sixth as a team at last year's OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational. Hall was the top Rebel individual as he tied for seventh at 1-over.
• UNLV finished fourth at its season opener in Colorado Springs, Colorado, last weekend.
• Last season, UNLV won the Mountain West Championship, captured an NCAA Regional title and advanced to the `Elite Eight' at the NCAA Championship.
• UNLV has an active NCAA record of 29 consecutive regional appearances.
• This season marks the 31st at UNLV for Hall of Fame head coach Dwaine Knight.
NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV continues play at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational with the second round Saturday, Sept. 16. UNLV will tee off beginning at 9:30 a.m. CT. The final round is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 17.
LIVE SCORING: Live scoring of the tournament is available at UNLVRebels.com, courtesy of Golfstat, or by CLICKING HERE.
