SUNRIVER -- The BYU men's golf team is in third place after one day of competition at the Mountain West Golf Championship.
The Cougars' early-round score puts them ahead of UNLV and New Mexico, who are both currently ranked above the Cougars. Coach Bruce Brockbank said he was pleased with his team's performance.
"We hung in there," Brockbank said. "We were at least solid."
The Cougars had to fight surging winds all day. Brockbank estimated the wind gusted from 20-30 miles per hour. He also said the wind made the course tricky.
Only eight strokes separate the top six teams in the championship.
A first round total of 292 placed the Cougars four strokes behind the opening day leader, San Diego State. The Aztecs rode strong rounds from Mark Warman and Jeff Hansen to shoot an even 288.
Junior Greg Machtaler led the way for the Cougars, ending in a tie for third on the individual leader board. Machtaler's five birdies helped him shoot a 70, for a two-under performance.
Oscar Alvarez and Todd Miller also contributed with steady rounds. Each scored a one-over 73. Their one-over scores tie them for tenth on the leader board. Brockbank was especially pleased with Miller's performance.
"Todd Miller played real solid," he said.
Alvarez's triple bogey on hole No. 5 kept him from scoring at or below par for the round. He scorched the back nine with 33, but got a bit sloppy on the front shooting a 40.
Just a week after a scorching performance at the Cougar Classic, Ron Harvey Jr. shot a four-over 76 to finish in a tie for No. 21 on the individual leader board. Freshman Jake Ellison also struggled shooting five over during the first round to end up No. 25.
Round 2 begins Friday morning at 9:30. Miller will be the first Cougar to tee off at 10:10 a.m. Brockbank said his team is in good shape after the first round.
"I think it'll take a real good round tomorrow to win this thing," Brockbank said. "And that's what we plan to do."
Friday's play can be followed live using the link found on the Mountain West Conference Golf Championship webpage at theMWC.com.
Team StandingsScores
1. San Diego State288 (E)
2. Colorado State289 (+1)
3. BYU292 (+4)
4. Utah293 (+5)
5. New Mexico295 (+7)
6. UNLV296 (+8)
7. Wyoming307 (+19)
8. Air Force320 (+32)
Individual Scores
1. Martin Laird, Colorado State33-31=64 (-8)
2. Mark Warman, San Diego State34-35=69 (-3)
3. Casey Fowles, Utah35-35=70 (-2)
Ryan Moore, UNLV37-33=70 (-2)
Greg Machtaler, BYU33-37=70 (-2)
Jeff Hansen, San Diego State35-35=70 (-2)
7. Charlie Beljan, New Mexico36-35=70 (-1)
8. Nolan Martin, Colorado State37-35=72 (E)
Jay Choi, New Mexico37-35=72 (E)
10. Todd Miller, BYU36-37=73 (+1)
Oscar Alvarez, BYU40-33=73 (+1)