SUNRIVER -- BYU men's golf team is tied for second after the first round of the 2003 Mountain West Conference Championship on Thursday.
The Cougars jumped out to a great start shooting 7-under-par on the first day thanks to an outstanding first round by sophomore Ron Harvey Jr. Harvey, who has struggled in the last few tournaments, returned to form with an opening round 67 to put him tied at the front of the pack. Harvey was seven-under after 16 holes, but bogied the last two holes to finish five-under-par.
"It's great to have (Ron) Harvey back playing well," BYU head coach Bruce Brockbank said. "It makes a huge difference when we've got four guys who are all scoring well."
Fellow Canadian Greg Machtaler continued his solid play this spring with a first round 69 on three birdies and 15 pars. Machtaler, who has finished third in his last two tournaments, is tied for fifth. Freshman Oscar Alvarez was even par while freshman Daniel Summerhays finished the day one-over par.
Under beautiful golf conditions the Cougars teed off in the first group at 10:00 a.m. and were able to finish before the afternoon winds became a factor. No. 12 New Mexico sizzled in the first round to lead the Cougars by five strokes at 12-under-par. San Diego State is tied with BYU at seven-under-par.
"Anytime you can go seven-under, it's a pretty good score," Brockbank said. "We've got to continue to play at this level the next two days to have a chance to win this."
The second round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament begins Friday morning and the final round will be held Saturday. BYU is looking for its 23rd conference championship and an automatic berth to the NCAA West Regional.
Mountain West Conf. Champ.
Crosswater Sunriver, OR
Dates: 05/01 - 05/03
Par: 72
Yardage: 7270
Fin. School Scores
1 New Mexico, U. of 276 -12
2 Brigham Young Univ. 281 -7
San Diego State U. 281 -7
4 Wyoming, U. of 287 -1
UNLV 287 -1
Colorado State Univ. 287 -1
7 Utah, Univ. of 290 +2
8 Air Force 305 +17
Mountain West Conf. Champ.
Crosswater Sunriver, OR
Dates: 05/01 - 05/03 (Today:05-02-2003)
Par: 72
Yardage: 7270
Fin. Name School Scores
1 Lars Johansson SanDiegoSt 30- 37 67 -5
Ron Harvey, Jr. BYU 31- 36 67 -5
3 Jay Choi New Mexico 33- 35 68 -4
Madalitso Muthiya New Mexico 33- 35 68 -4
5 Greg Machtaler BYU 34- 35 69 -3
Michael Letzig New Mexico 35- 34 69 -3
Nolan Martin Col. St. 34- 35 69 -3
Garrett Clegg Utah 33- 36 69 -3
9 Martin Laird Col. St. 35- 35 70 -2
Travis Whisman UNLV 35- 35 70 -2
Eric Baily Wyoming 36- 34 70 -2
Aaron Choi SanDiegoSt 36- 34 70 -2
J.C. Deacon UNLV 37- 33 70 -2
14 Jason Aichele Wyoming 36- 35 71 -1
Matthew Brunk Wyoming 35- 36 71 -1
Jay Reynolds New Mexico 35- 36 71 -1
17 John Lieber SanDiegoSt 36- 36 72 E
Oscar Alvarez BYU 35- 37 72 E
Brien Davis UNLV 35- 37 72 E
Mark Warman SanDiegoSt 35- 37 72 E
21 Daniel Summerhays BYU 37- 36 73 +1
Steve Newren Utah 37- 36 73 +1
Tommy Sharp Col. St. 37- 36 73 +1
24 Luke Swilor Utah 37- 37 74 +2
Carl Jensen Utah 35- 39 74 +2
26 Kurt Kowaluk Wyoming 39- 36 75 +3
Ryan Moore UNLV 35- 40 75 +3
Geoff Nuwash Col. St. 34- 41 75 +3
Jonathan Shuss Wyoming 38- 37 75 +3
30 Jarett Hamamoto Air Force 39- 37 76 +4
Adam Wasinger Air Force 38- 38 76 +4
Ryan Keeney UNLV 37- 39 76 +4
Chris Leong Air Force 37- 39 76 +4
34 Casey Fowles Utah 37- 40 77 +5
Brett Tobyne Col. St. 38- 39 77 +5
William Jackson Air Force 39- 38 77 +5
Ian Medlock New Mexico 36- 41 77 +5
38 Jared Overton BYU 39- 39 78 +6
39 Brandon Daum Air Force 38- 43 81 +9
Brian Miller SanDiegoSt 38- 43 81 +9