Blair paces the Cougars to fourth after day one

HOLLISTER, Calif., –Using balanced scoring the BYU men’s golf team is sitting in fourth after shooting a first round 2-over 290 at the West Coast Conference Championships on Monday.

“We started out great, but really struggled to finish,” said BYU coach Bruce Brockbank.

The Cougars sit only two shots behind of second place Gonzaga, but St. Mary’s took the field by storm, shooting a first round 14-under 274 en route to a huge first place lead.

“With St. Mary’s so far ahead we don’t have time to hit bad shots,” Brockbank said. “We need to manage the course better so we have a chance to position ourselves where we want to be.”

Much like he has done for the entire season, junior Zac Blair led the Cougars after shooting a 2-under 70 first round. Blair cruised through the front nine with birdies on holes one, two, eight and nine.

Blair struggled on the back nine, shooting 1-over, but still sits in fifth place with two rounds to go.

“Zac is hanging in there like he’s done all season,” Brockbank said. “If we can shoot some score like his we’ll be right back in the game.”

Sophomores Cole Ogden and Jordan Hammer each shot 1-over 73 and are currently tied for 14th.

The tournament resumes on Tuesday for round two and finishes on Wednesday.