Westlake Village, Calif.--Wind gusts and rain storms limited play to a soggy 18 holes as BYU got off to it's worst start of the season shooting a first round 310 at the Cleveland Golf Classic on Monday.
Only one golfer in a field of over 80 shot below par as Arizona State holds a two-shot lead over the University of Washington. The eighth-ranked Cougars are 16 shots behind the leaders with only two of its golfers shooting among the top 30 scores.
Manuel Merizalde bounced back after struggling in Hawaii two weeks ago to lead the Cougars. Merizalde shot a first round 74 and is tied for 13th. Scott Miller also successfully fought the rainy and cold conditions to shoot a first round 76 and is tied for 29th place.
"It was pouring down hard for most of the day," BYU head coach Bruce Brockbank said."But we just weren't mentally tough enough to overcome the conditions."
The raining conditions may cancel the second day of competition. If the Cleveland Golf Classic continues, it will do so with a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start on Tuesday (March 6).