Laramie, Wyo. (Sept. 8, 2018) --  The Wyoming Cowboys moved up four spots on Saturday to take the tournament lead in the second round of the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational.  The Pokes fired an eight-under par round on Saturday to give them a two-day total of nine-under par 567.  They hold a one-stroke lead over Colorado heading into Sunday's final round.  New Mexico State (-5, 571) and Northern Colorado (-1, 575) are the other two teams who have under-par totals entering Sunday.
     
Leading the way for the Cowboys on Saturday, were senior John Murdock, who shot a three-under par round of 69, and sophomore Carl Underwood, who shot a team-best four-under par round of 68.  Both Murdock and Underwood are tied for seventh place with two-round totals of three-under par 141.  Junior Dan Starzinski, who opened the tournament with a 69 on Friday, followed that with a one-over par round of 73 on Saturday to tie for 10th place at two-under par 142 heading into Sunday's final round.  True freshman Tyler Severin fired a two-under par round of 70 on Saturday and is tied for 39th with a three-over par score of 147.  Fellow true freshman Jimmy Dales sits at four-over par 148 and is tied for 48th.  The individual leader of the tournament is Mike McGilton of New Mexico State, who takes a nine-under par score of 135 into Sunday's third and final round.
 
Competing as individuals for the Pokes are true freshman Kirby Coe-Kirkham and redshirt freshman Jared Edeen.  Coe-Kirkham is tied for 19th with an even par total of 144.  Edeen is tied for 63rd at seven-over par 151.  Edeen's and Coe-Kirkham's scores in the tournament do not count toward Wyoming's team score.
 
"We had another solid day, and the kids played hard," said head coach Joe Jensen.  "I feel good about our start, particularly with several new players in the mix for us. Obviously a big day tomorrow.  It's fun to be in the hunt.  We need to enjoy tomorrow, play relaxed, play with confidence and not put too much pressure on ourselves.  If we can stick with our process, be consistent emotionally and be consistent with our routine I think that will give us the best results at the end of the day."
 
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.   Wyoming                                        287-280=567 (-9)
2.   Colorado                                        285-283=568 (-8)
3.   New Mexico State                           284-287=571 (-5)
4.   Northern Colorado                          292-283=575 (-1)
5.   Air Force                                         288-288=576 (Even)
6.   UC Davis                                         286-292=578 (+2)
7.   Weber State                                    285-296=581 (+5)
      Abilene Christian                             289-292=581 (+5)
9.   Utah State                                      289-296=585 (+9)
10.  Utah Valley State                            294-292=586 (+10)
11.  Missouri State                                 296-292=588 (+12)
12.  Texas State                                     292-297=589 (+13)
13.  Southern Illinois-Edwardsville           298-296=594 (+18)
14.  Southern Utah                                299-296=595 (+19)
15.  Northern Iowa                                 301-298=599 (+23)
16.  Drake                                             303-297=600 (+24)
 
Wyoming Cowboys
Tie 7th        John Murdock         72-69=141 (-3)
Tie 7th        Carl Underwood      73-68=141 (-3)
Tie 10th      Dan Starzinski         69-73=142 (-2)
Tie 39th      Tyler Severin           77-70=147 (+3)
Tie 48th      Jimmy Dales            73-75=148 (+4)
 
Wyoming Cowboys Playing as Individuals
Tie 19th      Kirby Coe-Kirkham   71-73=144 (Even)
Tie 63rd      Jared Edeen            79-72=151 (+7)