March 27, 2006

EDMOND, Okla. -- The West Texas A&M University men's golf team is in 11th place out of the 14-team field after the first day of action at the University of Central Oklahoma/Kickingbird Classic Monday at Kickingbird Golf Club at Edmond, Okla. WTAMU fired a combined 597 in the two 18-hole rounds. Northeastern State University leads the field with a 551.

Competing as an indvidual, senior Thomas Maldonado is WTAMU's top golfer after carding a 5-over 145 (74-71) to sit in a tie for 20th.

As far as the five playing as the team, sophomore Jon Musser fired a 148 (77-71), good for a tie for 32nd. Juniors Kent Neal (75-74) and Paul Slaughter (77-72) are both tied for 38th with a 149, two strokes ahead of fellow junior Spud Dillingham who is tied for 49th with a 151 (77-74). Freshman Joshua Rangel is one more stroke back at 151 (78-74), sitting in a tie for 53rd.

Also competing as individuals, freshman Geoff Phemister is tied for 62nd with a 155 (81-74), while fellow freshman Jonathan Shelley carded a 160 (82-78) to tie for 73rd.

Brian Risenhoover from Northeastern State and St. Mary's University's Jamie Amoretti are tied atop the individual leaderboard, heading the 82-player field by both carding 5-under 135's.

The Buffs will host the final tune up before the LSC Championships at La Paloma Country Club in Amarillo with the WTAMU/Subway Invitational on Monday-Tuesday, April 3-4 with tee times at 8 a.m. both days.