Laramie, Wyo. (Sept. 7, 2018) --  It was a strong first day for the Wyoming Cowboy golf team on Friday as they opened the 2018 fall season at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational being played at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.  The Cowboys shot an opening-round score of one-under par 287 and are in fifth place, but UW is only three strokes back of first place New Mexico State.  The Aggies shot an opening round four-under par 284 to hold the first-round lead.  Weber State and Colorado are tied for second at three-under par 285, and UC Davis is fourth at two-under 286.
     
Individually, Wyoming junior Dan Starzinski fired a three-under par 69 to tie for third place.  Cowboy senior John Murdock, who is the defending individual champion of the tournament, opened with an even-par round 72 and is in a tie for 21st.  The individual leader on Friday was Tadhg Campbell of New Mexico State, who fired a five-under par round of 67, only one stroke better than his Aggie teammate Mike McGilton (-4, 68) and Ryan Han of UC Davis (-4, 68) and only two strokes ahead of Starzinski.  Wyoming sophomore Carl Underwood and true freshman Jimmy Dales each shot one-over par rounds of 73.  Another true freshman, Tyler Severin finished his first collegiate round of golf with a five-over par 77.  Only the four best individual scores in each round count toward a team's score
 
A pair of other Cowboys are competing as individuals in this year's Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational.  True freshman Kirby Coe-Kirkham fired a one-under par round of 71.  Kirkham is tied for 10th place.  Redshirt freshman Jared Edeen completed the first round with a seven-over par score of 79, and Edeen's and Coe-Kirkham's scores in the tournament will not count toward Wyoming's team score.
 
"I didn't really know what to expect with a younger team going into the first tournament of the season, but for the most part it was a good solid start in our first round," said University of Wyoming Director of Golf and Head Coach Joe Jensen.  "It is a tightly-bunched field, and so that is encouraging that we are in that top group of teams.
     
"Dan (Starzinski) played well.  John (Murdock) didn't really get a lot going, but still shot an even-par round for the day.  Carl (Underwood played solid.  Jimmy (Dales) played a good solid first round of his college career, and Kirby (Coe-Kirkham) played well at the individual spot. 
     
"I feel good about where we are at heading into Saturday, and I'm proud of the guys.  We have a lot of new guys, and so we are kind of an unknown to start the season, but it's fun to be in this position in a tightly-bunched field.   
     
"Tomorrow I want the guys to play with discipline and patience and create a routine to continue to play consistent golf.  That is what really good teams and good players do, they have a routine.  If every guy can get the most out of themselves and eliminate little mistakes I'll be pleased.  I love their attitude thus far.  It's positive and fresh, with some young eager guys added to our few returning veterans."
 
It is a tightly-packed tournament field, with eight teams within five strokes of the lead.  The competition for individual medalist honors is also close, with 21 players within five strokes of the top spot, including Wyomng's Starzinski, Murdock and Coe-Kirkham. 
 
Wyoming is the defending team champion, shooting a 29-under par score of 835 to win the 2017 Gene Miranda by five strokes over second-place Colorado State (-24, 840) and by eight strokes over third-place Colorado (-21, 843).  Wyoming's Murdock won individual medalist honors in 2017 with a 14-under par score of 202 over the three-day event.
 
The tournament is being played on the Eisenhower Golf Club Blue Course at the Air Force Academy.  The course measures 7,511 yards and plays to a par of 72.  Saturday's second round tee times for Wyoming will run from 9 to 9:36 a.m., M.T., with the third and final round to be played on Sunday.  The final round will tee off from 7:15-9:15 a.m.
 
Team Standings
1.   New Mexico State                           284 (-4)
2.   Weber State                                    285 (-3)
      Colorado                                         285 (-3)
4.   UC Davis                                         286 (-2)
5.   Wyoming                                         287 (-1)
6.   Air Force                                         288 (Even)
7.   Abilene Christian                             289 (+1)
      Utah State                                       289 (+1)
9.   Northern Colorado                          292 (+4)
      Texas State                                     292 (+4)
11.  Utah Valley State                            294 (+6)
12.  Missouri State                                296 (+8)
13.  Southern Illinois-Edwardsville        298 (+10)
14.  Southern Utah                                299 (+11)
15.  Northern Iowa                                301 (+13)
16.  Drake                                             303 (+15)
 
Wyoming Cowboys
Tie 3rd        Dan Starzinski         69 (-3)
Tie 21st       John Murdock         72 (Even)
Tie 33rd      Carl Underwood      73 (+1)
Tie 33rd      Jimmy Dales            73 (+1)
Tie 69th      Tyler Severin           77 (+5)
 
Wyoming Cowboys Playing as Individuals
Tie 10th      Kirby Coe-Kirkham   71 (-1)
Tie 83rd      Jared Edeen            79 (+7)