Las Vegas, Nevada (March 12, 2010)–The UNLV Rebels are ranked 14th in the country, have a very hot golfer in Derek Ernst, and a home Las Vegas golf course which rates with the best in the world. Plus, the team's host event, the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters, is known as one of the best college golf tournamants of the entire college golf season. Many of the best teams and players are in Las Vegas vying for the title. LIVE SCORING.–By Brian Hurlburt and UNLV Staff.
The 2010 version of the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters will feature 11 of the top-20 teams in the country, according to Golfstat, and all 15 teams are ranked in the top 50. Participating teams include (Golfstat ranking in parenthesis) Arizona (49), Arizona State (12), Florida (5), Georgia (15), Georgia Tech (14), New Mexico (46), Oklahoma State (1), TCU (29), Tennessee (27), Texas (4), Texas A&M (7), Texas Tech (16), UCLA (11), UNLV (18) and USC (17)
The 2009 tournament was won by host UNLV for the second-straight year. The Rebels captured the team title with a score of 9-under 855. It marked the eighth time that UNLV has won the event in the last 15 years. Medalist honors were captured by Georgia Tech’s Cameron Tringale with a total of 11-under 205. Some of the notable golfers playing at Southern Highlands this year include Kevin Tway from Oklahoma State, Ernst from UNLV, Nils Floren from Texas Tech, and Russell Henley, the number two-ranked golfer in the country by Golfweek, from Georgia.
UNLV men’s golf team shot an opening-round 8-over-par 296 on Friday at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters, which is being played at Southern Highlands Golf Club (par 72, 7,510 yards). The Rebels trail team leader Florida by just four shots as the Gators lead the field at 4-over 292. UCLA is second at 6-over, followed by Texas A&M at 7-over. UNLV is tied with USC for fourth, while Texas is sixth at 9-over and Georgia is seventh at 10-over. The top seven teams are separated by just six shots.
Individually, Florida’s Tyson Alexander and TCU’s Johan de Beer are tied for first at 4-under 68. UNLV’s Eddie Olson is in a four-way tie for third at 2-under, two shots off the lead. After two bogeys on the first two holes, Olson finished the round with birdies on holes three, five, 13 and 18. UNLV’s Derek Ernst is tied for 16th at 2-over, while Brett Kanda is tied for 25th at 3-over. The other Rebel players: Kevin Penner, playing as an individual, is tied for 46th at 5-over, while Jeremiah Wooding is also tied for 46th. Colby Smith is tied for 53rd at 6-over. Part of report furnished by Andy Grossman, UNLV Sports Information Director.