Rebel golfers catch BYU, but lose in Texas playoff

Wednesday, March 22, 2000 | 11:21 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

The 10th-ranked UNLV men's golf team shot a field-best six-under-par 282 and tied for the lead before losing a playoff to eighth-ranked BYU at the Cleveland Golf/Morris Williams Intercollegiate Tuesday at Austin, Texas.

After standing in sixth place after two rounds, the Rebels made up 13 shots on the Cougars as both schools finished five shots ahead of third-place Fresno State.

BYU, however, won the first playoff hole to earn the team title, marking the second time this season that the Rebels have lost a championship in overtime. UNLV lost to Clemson in a two-hole playoff at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate on Oct. 19.

That the Rebels were so close victory was due to the scorching final round turned in by Michael Kirk. The senior fired a five-under 67, which was the low round of the tournament, to finish in third place overall. Joel Hendry of New Mexico won the individual honors, just one stroke ahead of BYU's Andy Miller.

Also for UNLV, Jeremy Anderson bounced back to shoot a two-under-par 70 final round and placed 16th. Tyler Mays tied for 18th, Scott Lander tied for 25th and Calvin Kupeyan shot par on the final 18 to tie for the 31st spot.