Rebel golfers stand 11th at NCAA West Regional event

Friday, May 18, 2001 | 10:45 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- The UNLV men's golf team sits in 11th place after the first round of the NCAA Men's Golf West Regional at Trysting Tree Golf Course on Thursday.

Only the top 10 teams from the regional will advance to the NCAA Championships.

The Rebels finished the day at six-over par, one stroke behind Pepperdine in 10th place.

Freshman James Oh led the Rebels, firing even par. Only 23 of the 141 golfers broke par on Thursday.

Scott Lander, Calvin Kupeyan and Travis Whisman are among the 24 players tied for 50th overall with rounds of two-over par. All three produced rounds of 74 on Thursday to combine with Oh's 72 and account for the Rebels' 294 total.

Clark Corbett was UNLV's fifth man, scoring 76 and tying for 92nd place overall.

Jin Park shot a 3-under 69 to help Arizona State take a one-stroke lead. UCLA's John Merrick was the individual leader after shooting a 5-under 67. Stanford's Philip Rowe is tied with Park for second place, and six players are tied for fourth at 70.

Stanford is in second place at 284, followed by Wake Forest at 288. Arizona, San Diego State and UCLA are tied for fourth in the three-day tournament.

Host Oregon Sate is in a three-way tie for seventh place.

The second round of the 54-hole event began this morning.