Cougars Hanging Tough at Ping Preview

BYU's nineteenth-ranked men's golf team found itself ten shots out of first place before play was suspended late Monday afternnon in the Ping and Golfweek Preview, one of the most presigious collegiate golf tournaments in the country.

After a round and a half, Manuel Merizalde and Scott Miller are tied in thirteenth place at one-over-par followed by Billy Harvey who stands at five-over-par.

"Billy, Manuel and Scott are keeping us in the hunt," BYU head coach Bruce Brockbank. "We just need to have a strong finish and we have a very good chance of being in the top five."

The Ping and Golfweek Preview field includes 14 of the nation's top 20 teams including all ten of the top ten golf programs in the country. This is one of BYU's only appearances in the Ping Preview because it usually falls on a Sunday. But tournament managers changed it to a Monday-Tuesday format to allow BYU to compete.

Wet conditions caused scores to soar and an afternoon downpour caused the second round to be cancelled.

"It's so wet out here, it's a joke," Brockbank said. "We've played tough against some great teams. It's going to be close right down to the wire.

Play resumes Tuesday at 11 a.m. when each team will play a final nine holes. For updated results and stats check www.goduke.com.

Team         Score    Holes   Round
1.  Georgia        +1     7- 8     +2
2.  Texas          +4     7- 8     -4
3.  Arizona        +5     7- 8     +1
4.  Northwestern   +7     7- 9     +1
5.  Auburn         +8     9-10     +8
6.  Arizona St.    +9     7- 9     +7
    Clemson        +9     7- 8     -1
8.  BYU           +11     8- 9     +5
9.  UNLV          +13     7- 8     +8
10. Georgia Tech  +14     7- 9     +2
11. Oklahoma St.  +17     8- 9     +9
12. N. Carolina   +18     9-10     +9
13. Kent State    +18     7- 8     +4
14. Duke          +19     8- 9     +8
15. Houston       +22     9-10     +8
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS* 
*Before Second Round Play was suspended
Place	Name			  Score  Hole  Rnd.
13th	Manuel Merizalde	+1  9   +2
13th	Scott Miller		+1  9   -2
40th	Billy Harvey		+5  8   +4
47th	Jesse Hibler		+6  8   +3
74th	Chris Graham		+12 8   +2