The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Wolf Pack Classic
Blazers In 11th After Opening Day Of Wolf Pack Classic
10/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Oct. 4, 2010
STATELINE, Nev. - The UAB men's golf team is in 11th place overall following the opening two rounds of the Wolf Pack Classic on Monday.
The Blazers opened the event with a score of 284 over the opening 18 holes, which was the second-best team total through round one. However, UAB responded with a 309 during the second round, the lowest score of the afternoon, to finish the day with a 593.
After stormy weather threatened to delay completion of the second round, including a lightning delay, players made it in the clubhouse just before darkness set in.
Junior Tyler Hock paced the Blazers throughout the opening 36 holes, finishing the day with a personal-best 36-hole score of one-over par 145 (72-73) on the par 72, 7,445 Edgewood-Tahoe Golf Course. Hock will enter the final round in a tie for 18th place overall.
Another reason for UAB's fast start in the first round was the play of junior Jason Shufflebotham and redshirt freshman Thomas Sutton, both of whom recorded career-low marks through the opening 18 holes. Shufflebotham carded a two-under par 70, while Sutton's opening-round of five-under 67 was not only his personal best, but also the best round by a Blazer since Adam West recorded a 67 in the final round of the 2008 Shoal Creek Intercollegiate.
However, both golfers stumbled during the second round. Shufflebotham would card a 78 to finish the day in a tie for 33rd with a 148. Meanwhile, Sutton carded an 83 during the afternoon round, and is in a tie for 46th overall with a 150.
Sophomore Philip Kaiser is currently in a tie for 66th with a 154 (75-79), while sophomore Hunter Hawkins, playing in his first career tournament for the Green and Gold, is in a tie for 72nd with a 156 (77-79).
Powered by individual leader Alex Ching, San Diego leads the 15-team field with a score of 12-under 564. Ching has posted rounds of 67 and 70 for 7-under par going into the final round. Tournament host Nevada is 12 strokes back with an even par 576. Fresno State is in third with a 577, while San Francisco and Washington are tied for fourth with a 578.
The final round will begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, with a shotgun format in effect.
