May 18 | 08:00 AM
Brigham Young University

21st

UNM Championship Course

3601 University Blvd SE Albuquerque NM 87106

dbroberg | Posted: 18 May 2002 | Updated: 18 May 2002
dbroberg

ALBUQUERQUE -- With a final round 11-over-par 299 BYU fails to advance to the NCAA Championships, finishing 21st at the NCAA West Regional on Saturday.

The Cougars were led by senior All-American Manuel Merizalde who shot the lone below par round for BYU in the tournament. In his last round as a BYU Cougar, Merizalde carded a two-under 70 to finish seven-over-par and in 51st place. Sophomore Devin Heid had a final round 75 to bounce back from high scores in the first two rounds. This was also the last collegiate tournament for Kyle Wight who finished 14-over par and in 105th place.

The Cougar Freshmen, Ron Harvey Jr. and Greg Machtaler shot final round 77's and finished in 60th place and 72nd place respectively. Harvey, Machtaler and Heid will be the backbone of talented, but young Cougar team next season. In addition to these players the Cougars will add three extremely talented recruits (Daniel Summerhays, Oscar Alvarez and Mitch Carlson) who will contribute immediately next

season.

For the second consecutive season the Cougars failed to advance past the NCAA West Regional. The last time BYU advanced to the NCAA Championships was in 2000 when the Cougars finished 2nd at the NCAA West Regional in Fresno.

Host New Mexico shot a tournament low 4-under final round to finish in a tie for first with the University of Washington, who is coached by former BYU Cougar Matthew Thurmond. Three Mountain West Conference schools advance to the NCAA Championships. Along with New Mexico, third-place UNLV and 10th place San Diego State both qualified for a berth to the finals.

FINAL TEAM SCORING

T1. New Mexico +8 293-295-284--872

T1. Washington +8 291-293-288--872

3. UNLV +10 290-292-292--874

4. Minnesota +11 290-298-287--875

5. Pepperdine +13 292-297-288--877

T6. Arizona +14 292-293-293--878

T6. Pacific +14 294-295-289--878

T6. Texas +14 285-303-290--878

9. Fresno State +15 290-293-297--882

T10. San Diego State +18 289-296-297--882

T10. Texas Tech +18 298-297-287--882

12. California +19 308-286-289--883

T13. Oregon +21 300-292-293--885

T13. UCLA +21 296-292297---885

15. Ohio State +25 295-298-296--889

16. Nevada +26 299-293-298--890

17. Stanford +27 303-297-291--891

18. USC +31 294-297-298--895

19. Washington State +35 302-296-301--899

20. Arizona State +36 304-302-294--900

21. BYU +37 301-301-299--901

22. UC-Irvine +38 307-306-289--902

23. Colorado State +47 314-296-301--911

24. Illinois State +49 301-306-306--913

25. IUPUI +64 315-311-302--928

26. Detroit Mercy +67 302-312-317--931

27. Central Conn. St +73 313-316-308--937

BYU INDIVIDUAL SCORES

T51. Manuel Merizalde +7 74-79-70--223

T60. Ron Harvey Jr. +8 72-75-77--224

T72. Greg Machtaler +10 77-72-77--226

T105. Kyle Wight +14 78-75-77--230

T119. Devin Heid +17 78-80-75--233

141 Individuals competiting