Cougars cruise to win the Cougar Classic

BYU's Andy Miller in his final home tournament as a Cougar shot a third round 63 to slip past BYU sophomore Manuel Merizalde by one stroke to win the Ben Hogan Cougar Classic at Riverside Country Club on Saturday.

BYU finished first, second and third individually as well as capturing the team title by 24 strokes after shooting 273-273-275--821 (-43). This was the sixth-ranked Cougars' seventh tournament victory this season.

After the first two rounds the three-time All-American Miller was six strokes behind the leader Merizalde. But on the final eighteen holes Miller was on fire shooting six consecutive birdies on the back nine. Merizalde had a chance to send the tournament to a tiebreaker but his ten-foot putt just missed the cup. Miller's nine-under-par final round was one off the Riverside Country Club course record 62 and was BYU's first individual championship this season. Junior Scott Miller of BYU finished third after shooting 70-67-70--207 (-9).

Finishing behind the Cougars was No. 12 New Mexico and No. 10 Fresno State. BYU prepares next for the Mountain West Championships in Palm Springs, California on May 1-3

2000 Ben Hogan Cougar Classic Team Standings
1. BYU		273-273--275--821
2. New Mexico	282-287--276--845
3. Fresno State	277-291--291--859
4. San Diego St.289-292--284--865
5. Tulsa		296-287--285--868
6. Wyoming	286-297--289--872
6. Colorado St.	290-292--290--872
8. Hawaii		289-293--291--873
9. Air Force	289-294--296--879
9. Utah		295-293--292--880
11. Nevada		296-297--289--882
12. Weber State	295-301--297--893
13. So. Utah	293-296--311-900
13. Boise State	297-299--304--900
15. Utah State	314-303--305--922
Individual Standings
1. Andy Miller		BYU		69-69-63--201 (-15)
2. Manuel Merizalde	BYU		66-66-70--202 (-14)
3. Scott Miller		BYU		70-67-70--207 (-9)
4. Scott Hailes		New Mexico	70-71- 67--208 (-8)
5. Michael Letzig	New Mexico	71-68-71--210 (-6)
6. Martin Maritz	Tulsa		72-71-69--212 (-4)
7. Nigel Spence		Colo. St.	74-70-69--213 (-3)
(t) Scott Piercy	SDSU		69-72-72--213 (-3)
9, Wil Collins		New Mexico	70-75-69--214 (-2)
(t) Nick Watney		Fresno St.	68-72-74--214 (-2)
11. Ryan Ellis		Utah		73-71-71--215 (-1)
(t) Jose Garrido	BYU		68-73-74--215 (-1)
13. Lars Johansson	SDSU		75-72-69--216 (E)
(t) Danny Visosky	Air Force	71-71-74--216 (E)
(t) Mike Haack		Nevada	71-70-75--216 (E)
(t) Kevin Price		New Mexico	71-75-70--216 (e)
(t) Norman-Ganin Asao	Hawaii	71-74-71--216 (E)
18. Luke Sestero	Boise St.	71-72-74--217 (1)
(t) Todd Eaker		Tulsa		72-70-75--217 (1)
(t) Jeff Scohy		SDSU		74-73-70--217 (1)
22. Danny Paniccia	Fresno St.	72-75-71--218 (2)
(t) Todd Miller		BYU		75-71-72--218 (2)
(t)Jacob Hunter		Wyoming	72-76-70--218 (2)
25. Ryan King		Fresno St.	74-73-72--219 (3)
(t) Scott Young	 	Weber St.	73-77-69--219 (3)
(t) Mike Urbatchka	Wyoming	77-69-73--219 (3)
(t) Todd Rose		Fresno St.	69-76-74--219 (3)