Rebel golfers take 2nd

Victoria Sun

Monday, March 11, 2002 | 9:37 a.m.

The UNLV men's golf team tried to overtake Georgia Tech in the final round of the Callaway Golf Las Vegas Intercollegiate Tournament at Southern Highlands Sunday afternoon.

A bad start and shaky finish prevented that from happening.

UNLV carded a final-round 291 for a total 1-under-par 863 to finish second behind the overwhelming Yellow Jackets, whose 7-under-par 281 final round put them at a blistering 20-under-par 844 for the tournament.

"We hung with the best team in the country and showed that we are capable of playing with them," Knight said. "They got off to a great start and a great finish which is what we need to do.

"By playing with them, our guys can see that."

UNLV and Georgia Tech were the only teams to finish under par for the tournament.

Georgia Tech's Troy Matteson and Florida's Camilo Villegas each shot 8-under for the tournament to tie for the individual title. There was no playoff because both teams had to catch planes.

The Rebels entered the last day in third place at 4-under. But after one hole, UNLV was 6-over for the day after its golfers recorded three bogeys and a triple-bogey.

That didn't discourage the Rebels from attempting to salvage the rest of the round.

Brandon Askew was 2-under-par until he double-bogeyed No. 18 to finish even while Brett Foulds, Ryan Moore and Clark Corbett each turned in 73s.

"I'm extremely proud of the guys for competing," Knight said. "We battled back and fought to get it to a few under at one point."