March 27, 2006
STEVINSON RANCH, Calif. -
Junior Matt Miller fired a first-round even-par 72 and finished day one tied for fourth-place with a two-round total of 147 (72, 75) and three shots off the lead at the Colorado/Stevinson Ranch Invitational in Stevinson, Calif. Senior Matt Maskel carded a second-round two-under-par 70 to finish with a two-round total of 150 (80, 70) and tied for 16th place.
The Redbirds finished the day tied for sixth-place with Missouri, shooting a two-round total of 605 (300, 305) and are nine shots back.
Assistant coach Pina Gentile feels that the `Birds can improve in tomorrow's final round as well as the District 5 rankings as seven teams from the district are competing in the tournament.
"We didn't have the greatest rounds today," said Genitle. "But I am very optimistic going into tomorrow. It's going to be a very important day for us, and our goal is to finish in the top three because we want to be able to move up in the district rankings."
Senior Kris Wildenradt fired a first-round four-under-par 68 and was at the top of the leader board until unfavorable weather conditions contributed to a setback in the second-round, putting him tied for 19th with a two round total of 151 (68, 83). Senior Chris Eddy fired two rounds of 80, finishing the day in tied for 61st with a two-round total of 160 (80, 80). Freshman Ben Murphy rounded out the lineup, finishing tied for 63rd with a two-round total of 161 (80, 81).
Gentile felt that the weather made finishing the second-round tough, but was pleased with the effort from the `Birds.
"The rain made the last few holes of the second-round difficult," said Gentile. "It was starting to rain hard, and the wind picked up considerably. I felt that Miller had solid play, and he hung in there in the second-round. Maskel also had an incredible second-round because he was able to turn it around after struggling earlier."
Host Colorado finished the day in the lead, with a two-round team total of 596 (298, 298) and one shot ahead of Kansas State. The Buffaloes' were led by Ryan Anderson (76, 72) and Edward McGlasson (74, 74) who finished tied for sixth-place with a two-round total of 148. Oklahoma City's Daniel Mitchell ended day one in the individual lead, firing a first-round two-under-par 70 to finish with a two-round total of 144 (70, 74). Missouri Valley Conference members Drake (third-place) and Wichita State (fourth-place) both finished the day ahead of the Redbirds.
The Redbirds resume play on Tuesday beginning at 8:00 a.m. for the final 18 holes of the tournament.
