Rebels claim MWC golf title

Thursday, May 2, 2002 | 8:37 a.m.

SUNRIVER, Ore. -- The UNLV men's golf team fired a final-round two-over par 290 to hold off the rest of the eight-team field and win its second Mountain West Conference men's golf championship at Sunriver Resort's Crosswater Course on Wednesday.

The Rebels (288-289-290--867) led from start to finish of the league tourney, but never by more than three strokes. They held a two-stroke advantage over Air Force (292-287-302--881) and New Mexico (292-287-290--869) heading into Wednesday's play, but managed to keep their distance. And although several other schools gained ground, they could not overcome the lead UNLV had built.

Surprisingly, UNLV found freshman J.C. Deacon (72-72-71--215) leading the way at the day's end. Deacon remained steady throughout the event and finally pulled his round under par in the finale to finish tied for second place, three strokes behind individual winner Martin Laird (72-70-70--212) of Colorado State.

Ryan Moore (72-73-72--217) and Brandon Askew (73-72-73--218) carried the rest of Wednesday's load, finishing fifth and sixth respectively. Brien Davis (75-74-74--223) rounded out the final-round scoring, shooting 2-over.

The win is the sixth league title in school history and the Rebels' second in the brief three-year history of the Mountain West. UNLV rolled to a record 23-stroke win in 2000, but fell to fifth in last year's event.

UNLV advances to the NCAA West Regional, which will be held May 16-18 at New Mexico's Championship Course in Albuquerque.