May 17, 2012

RESULTS & TEE TIMES

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. –The University of Memphis golf team rebounded from a slow start early in the first round to post a team score of 295 (+7) and grab a share of fourth position at the NCAA Bowling Green Regional. Jonathan Fly set the pace with a 4-under-par 68 and is tied for the individual lead with Pedro Figueiredo of UCLA.

“We got off to a very slow start but fought back and played very well on the back,” Memphis head coach Grant Robbins said. “We are in a good spot going into tomorrow.”

The Tigers found themselves in a tie for last early in the round as their team score reached as high as 11-over-par before they settled in. Fly posted a 4-under-par 32 on the closing nine after shooting even on the front to post his 68 and lead the Memphis charge.

Jack Belote had a tumultuous up and down round that featured seven birdies and six bogies on the way to a 2-over-par 74. Belote birdied five of his final seven holes while shooting 34 (-2) on the back nine and climbing into a tie for 18th place individually.

Steve Lee posted 38 on both the front and back nine to card a 76 (+4) in round one. Lee is in a tie for 34th position, while teammate Will Pearson (77) is in a tie for 47th. Grant Milner posted an opening round 83 (+11) and sits in a tie for 72nd position.

The Tigers find themselves in a four-way tie for fourth position after the opening round. No. 39 Memphis is tied with No. 15 Texas A&M, No. 21 Clemson and No. 26 North Texas as each school posted a team score of 295 (+7).

UCLA torched the Club at Olde Stone Thursday afternoon as the Bruins posted a 284 (-4) team score en route to opening up a 10-shot lead over second-place schools Chattanooga and Colorado State. UCLA was the only team to finish under par and was led by first-round individual co-leader Figueiredo.

Memphis continues its play at the NCAA Bowling Green Regional Friday with the second round. Tee times for round two as well as live scoring can be found at www.golfstat.com.

This is the fourth appearance in NCAA postseason play for Memphis and third under Coach Robbins. The Tigers finished tied for 20th at the 2008 NCAA East Regional at Council Fire Golf Club in Chattanooga, Tenn. Robbins was named 2008 C-USA Coach of the Year during that season. Last season, Memphis finished in 11th position at the NCAA Central-Indiana Regional.

The Tigers advanced to the finals at NCAA Championship for the only time in school history in 1988 when they were led by All-American Steve Metz. Memphis finished 28th in the championship.

Memphis' best accomplishment in the NCAA Championship came in 1955, when former Tiger Hillman Robbins won the Individual Title. Robbins led the 1954-55 Tigers to a 9-2 match record and was named as an alternate to the Walker Cup Team.

-www.gotigersgo.com-