Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate Day 1
CSU golfers hold top spot after windy opening rounds
10/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Oct. 4, 2008
By Danny Mattie
Athletic Media Relations
PALM DESERT, Calif. - In what Head Coach Jamie Bermel described as some of the windiest conditions his team has played in, with gusts measuring an estimated 20-30 mph, the Colorado State men's golf team maintained its poise and focus, and heads into Sunday's final round of the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate atop the team leaderboard.
"We played very solid this afternoon, despite the very windy conditions," said Bermel. "The wind got even worse in the second round and our guys really stepped up and played even better. They are a veteran team played like it today."
Indeed, the Rams seasoned lineup of senior Zen Brown and juniors Bryce Hanstad, Dustin Morris and Riley Arp, played like veterans, as each placed in the top 32 of the 100-player tournament through 36 holes.
Even freshman Zahkai Brown, seeing his first official collegiate action, got into the act for the Rams, bouncing back from an opening round 76 with a 1-under 71 and tying Hanstad as the Rams' top finisher in sixth place overall.
"Zahkai had played pretty solid as an individual for us this season," said Bermel. "I walked with him all day and he put together a good round. He putted really well and didn't play like a freshman. I was really happy with that."
Hanstad carded rounds of 72-75 to finish at 3-over-par, while Zen Brown shot rounds of 74-75 and finished just two strokes behind Hanstad and his younger brother in a tie for 15th overall.
Morris bounced back from an opening-round 79, matching the younger Brown's second-round total of 71, and is tied for 20th overall.
"I was really proud of the way Dustin bounced back in the second round," added Bermel. "He really showed a lot out there."
Arp, the Rams season stroke leader (70.17) entering the tournament, posted back-to-back rounds of 76 to finish the first day tied for 32nd.
Sophomore Justin Spray (77-81) is tied for 63rd, as an individual, heading into Sunday's final round.
Colorado State holds a three-stroke advantage over Oregon State (593). UC Santa Barbara (596), Idaho (597) and Denver (599) round out the top five.
The Rams tee off at 7:45 a.m. PT in search of their second team title in three tournaments to start this season.
| 1 | Colorado State | 298-292--590 |
| T6 | Bryce Hanstad | 72-75--147 |
| T6 | Zahkai Brown | 76-71--147 |
| T15 | Zen Brown | 74-75--149 |
| T20 | Dustin Morris | 79-71--150 |
| T32 | Riley Arp | 76-76--152 |
| T63 | *Justin Spray | 77-81--158 |
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