LAKESIDE -- The BYU men's golf team leads the Barona Collegiate Cup by eight strokes after two rounds of play that concluded Monday.
The Cougars started the day hot, tallying a 17-under as a team during the first round on the par-72, 7,043-yard course. BYU Coach Bruce Brockbank said the first round was awesome. Getting off to a good start really benefited the Cougars.
"It was a good day for us," Brockbank said. "It's kind of nice being able to throw out a 72 and a 71."
Four Cougars finished the day in the top-10, an impressive feat considering the team's total score comes from the top four individual scores of the team each round.
"We've got four guys who are all in the mix to win this tomorrow," Brockbank said. "Oscar is really close. It would be great to see him come out tomorrow and get hot with his putter and get his first win."
Oscar Alvarez led the Cougars on Day One with a 9-under performance. The All-American is only one stroke behind tournament--leader, Scott Anderson of Ohio State. Alvarez carded 10 birdies en route to his second place finish.
During the first round Alvarez had no bogies and four birdies and an eagle on the par 5 No. 13 hole. He hit his second shot two feet from the pin for his eagle. He had six birdies and one bogie and a double bogie in the second round.
St. George native Jake Ellison also played extremely well for the Cougars. He finished the day in a tie for No. 6. Ellison is only two strokes behind Alvarez after shooting a 69-68--137. He led the Cougars with 26 pars.
On first 18 holes, Ellison had three birdies and 15 pars. He had 24 pars in his first 27 holes. He finished the day with an eagle on the par 5 No. 1 hole. He nailed his second shot just three feet from the cup.
Senior Greg Machtaler and Ron Harvey Jr. carded identical 68-70--138s to tie for No. 9 on the tournament leader board.
Senior Todd Miller also played perhaps his best tournament of the season by carding a 143. Brockbank said Miller is starting to regain his confidence after a shaky start.
Clay Ogden is also playing in the tournament as an individual. He stroked a 143 to tie Miller for No. 36.
Brockbank said he'd like to see the team put away the tournament away early tomorrow.
The final round of the Cup begins tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. PT.
Fin. School Scores
1 Brigham Young Univ. 271 277 548 -28
2 Ohio State Univ. 283 273 556 -20
3 Colorado State Univ. 283 276 559 -17
4 Denver, U. of 278 282 560 -16
5 Texas A&M University 285 278 563 -13
6 UC-Santa Barbara 289 275 564 -12
Wichita State Univ. 285 279 564 -12
8 Fresno State 286 282 568 -8
9 Washington State U. 287 283 570 -6
10 Texas El Paso, U. of 283 288 571 -5
11 San Diego State U. 290 282 572 -4
12 San Diego, U. of 292 282 574 -2
13 Hawaii, Univ. of 293 287 580 +4
14 Nevada, Univ. of 293 291 584 +8
BYU Individual Results
Fin. Golfer Scores
2 Oscar Alvarez 66 69 135
T6 Jake Ellison 69 68 137
T9 Greg Machtaler 68 70 138
T9 Ron Harvey, Jr. 68 70 138
T36 Todd Miller 72 71 143
T36 Clay Ogden 74 69 143