Cougars in Third Place After Round One

TUCSON -- The Mountain West Conference Men’s Golf Championships got underway Thursday with a first round that saw the BYU Cougars place third led by junior Esteban Calisto. The Cougars are just four strokes behind No. 35 Colorado State at 3-over-par while Calisto is tied for first overall at -1.

BYU trails No. 31 San Diego State by two strokes but bested No. 12 UNLV (+6), No. 24 TCU (+9) and No. 45 New Mexico (+27) as well as Wyoming (+19), Air Force (+20) and Utah (+21) over the first 18 holes.

Calisto was the low Cougar on the day with three birdies and one eagle, his first of the season. His three strokes on the par-five 10th hole began a back nine that saw the Ecuador native go three-under-par.

Senior Robbie Fillmore, playing in his final MWC Championship, was right behind Calisto at even par, tying for fifth place. Fillmore also posted three birdies on the day, all of which came on the back nine. BYU’s other senior, Brady Johnson, was three over on the day to tie for 12th.

The 10th hole also proved kind to sophomore Jordan Rodgers, who eagled the hole as part of his +3 round. Freshman Zac Blair rounded out the Cougar quintet with a round of 77, six strokes over par.

Round two will begin Friday at the OMNI Tucson National Golf Course. Live stats are available from the BYU men’s golf schedule page at http://www.byucougars.com/Schedule.jsp?SP=141.