PALM DESERT, Calif. – Wyoming men's golf is tied for 15th place after an opening round score of 297 (+9) at Classic Club in the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate.

Senior Quintin Pope shot an even-par round of 72 for the lowest score of Wyoming five-man team. Pope opened his tournament with consecutive birdies, and finished with a birdie on the 18th hole to get back to even.

Sophomore Dan Starzinski and freshman Carl Underwood, both playing as individuals, each notched opening rounds of 69 (-3). The duo is tied with five other players for 10th place. Only two of the 18 other individual players are ahead of the pair. Pope, Starzinski and Underwood each carded a team-high five birdies.

Junior John Murdock tallied a 3 (+1), including back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th holes. Murdock is tied for 33th. Senior Glenn Workman notched a birdie on his final hole to card a 75 (+3) and currently sits tied for 68th. Senior Arron Lickteig shot a 77 (+5), followed by senior Drew McCullough who recorded a 8 (+6).

"It's the first round of the year, attitudes are good," UW head coach Joe Jensen said. "Our process isn't to be peaking in February, it's going to take us some rounds. Truly, all is well. We've had a good week leading up to this tournament. Our individuals playing so well makes us a better team and I love that. It shows me we have guys who want in the lineup and that makes us a complete team."

No. 19 California leads the field after a first-round team score of 275 (-13). No. 9 Texas Tech is in second place, nine strokes behind after a team score of 284 (-4). Colorado is in third with a mark of 287 (-1), followed by No. 21 UCLA after a 289 (+1). Tennessee and UC Riverside are tied for fifth with scores of 290 (+2).

Peyton Wilhoit of Southern Illinois made a late charge to the front of the pack to finish the day with a 66 (-6). Wilhoit carded six birdies and no bogeys. Cal's Sebastian Crampton is in second after a first-round 67 (-5), followed by his teammates Collin Morikawa and Jamie Cheatham, along with four others, with rounds of 68 (-4).

Tomorrow's tee times will begin at 8 a.m. MT off of holes 1 and 10. The Pokes will tee off of hole 10 beginning at 10 a.m. MT. Underwood and Starzinski will tee off of hole 10 at 7 a.m. and 7:10, respectively.