UNLV golfers share top spot in region with New Mexico

Friday, May 15, 1998 | 9:40 a.m.

The top-ranked UNLV men's golf team and fellow WAC member New Mexico shot opening round 1-under-par 287s to tie for the first-round lead at the NCAA West Regional Golf Championship at Arizona State's Karsten Golf Course Thursday.

"We had a good final nine holes today," UNLV coach Dwaine Knight said. "We were 4-over on the front, so we played pretty well at five-under on the second nine. We weren't real sharp, but we expected that with finals just finishing up.

"It was not a bad start, but hopefully we will get better each day."

UCLA shot an even-par 288 and sits in third place, two shots ahead of fourth-place UC Santa Barbara and three shots in front of fifth-place California.

Andy Miller of Brigham Young, Doug La Belle of New Mexico and Kyle Kovacs of UC Santa Barbara had a share of the first-round lead at four-under 68. Fresno State's Ryan King was fourth at 69, while six players are tied for fifth at 70, including UNLV's individual leader, Scott Lander.

UNLV's Jeremy Anderson turned in the Rebels' second-best score with a one-under 71.

The tournament continued today and concludes Saturday with 18 holes scheduled each day. The top nine teams and two individuals after Saturday's final round will advance to the NCAA Championship at the University of New Mexico's Championship Course in Albuquerque.