TUCSON, ARIZ. – Sophomore Kamrin Allen fired a 69 (-2) to lead the University of Wyoming men’s golf team during the first round of 2014 Mountain West Championship on Friday. Allen is tied for third in the 55-man field and is three strokes off the leader. As a team, the Pokes are in fifth place with 290 (+6) in the 11-team field on the par-71, 7,144 yard Catalina Course at Omni Tucson National Golf Resort in Tucson, Ariz.
“We got off to a very solid start,” Wyoming head coach Joe Jensen said. “Kamrin (Allen) had a great day. He finished the round on a good note but knows he still has work to do. We are within striking distance of a few good teams. It’s a competitive conference so it’s good to see our lineup balanced from top to bottom like it was today.”
Allen eagled the 15th hole and recorded two birdies on the day to shoot his best round of the spring season. He was followed by freshman Ryan Wallen who shot a 73 (+2) to finish tied for 23rd. Senior Eric Parish had three birdies during the first round while Allen and Wallen each recorded two. Parish and senior Brent Baylon are tied for 30th place after 18 holes with their first round score of 74 (+3). Senior Eddie Stewart recorded a 75 (+4) during the first round and sits tied for 39th. Stewart birdied the tenth and 15th holes.
“We will of course continue to take it day by day,” Jensen said. “There is a lot of golf left to be played. If we go out there and play the confident kind of golf we know we can play, we are capable of finishing strong.”
Leading the individual scoring is UNLV’s Carl Jonson who fried a 66 (-5) during day one. Jonson finished tenth at the 2013 MW Championship. Ricardo Michelini of San Diego State is sitting in second place with a 68 (-3). Along with Allen, New Mexico’s Andrej Bevins is three strokes off the leader with 69 (-2).
At the top of the team leaderboard is No. 23 New Mexico shooting a first round score of 279 (-5). No. 29 UNLV is one stroke behind with a 280 (-4), while No. 37 San Diego State is third with 281 (-3).
The Cowboys will continue the championship on Saturday with one 18-hole round. Tee times for the second round begins at 8 a.m. MT.
Wyoming Individual Results
T3. Kamrin Allen: 69 (-2)
T23. Ryan Wallen: 73 (+2)
T30. Brent Baylon: 74 (+3)
T30. Eric Parish: 74 (+3)
T39. Eddie Stewart: 75 (+4)
