Maricopa, Ariz. (Jan. 3, 2019) --  At the end of the second day of the 2019 Saguaro Amateur golf tournament in Maricopa, Ariz., three Wyoming Cowboys are in the Top 20 in the field of 112 amateurs.  Leading the way for the Pokes is junior Dan Starzinski, who is tied for second place at five-under par 139 through 36 holes.  Starzinski is tied with Sean Carlon of the University of New Mexico and they trail tournament leader, Trevor Olkowski 138 (-6) of the University of Colorado by only one stroke.  The final 18-hole round of the tournament will tee off on Friday at 9:30 a.m., M.T.
     
Wyoming Cowboys Tyler Severin and John Murdock are tied for 10th and 20th, respectively.  Severin posted a two-round total of 143 (-1), while Murdock sits at 145 (+1).  Starzinski fired a one-under par round of 71 on Thursday to go with an opening round 68 (-4) on Wednesday.  Severin shot a 73 (+1) Thursday to follow his opening round 70 (-2).  Murdock also shot a one-under par 71 on Thursday to combine with his first day 74 (+2).
     
"I love that our guys are here, competing well and spending time together as a team," said Joe Jensen, UW Director of Golf.  "What I like about this event is that after we've had a few weeks off following the fall season, this event forces our guys to play through some difficult challenges.  Because they might be a little bit rusty, they have to learn to continue to compete even when they may not be at the top of their game.  That is what this winter training is all about. 
     
"Obviously, Dan (Starzinski) is out competing and playing hard.  Tyler (Severin), who has never really seen this golf course, is really competing hard, and John (Murdock) battled back today with a sub-par round.  You can't replace a player who just wants to go out and fight and compete.  You love to see that as a coach.
     
"Dan has a great spring ahead of him.  It is really neat to seem him playing well.  I think it is good for the rest of our guys to see Dan, Tyler and John all playing well, and it is good for these three guys to compete against one another as individuals in an amateur event like this because it makes each of them better."
     
After tying for the tournament lead on Wednesday, Starzinski maintained his strong play on Thursday to trail by only one shot entering Friday's final round.  Severin also continued his consistent play, tying for 10th heading into Friday after being tied for fifth place on Wednesday.  Murdock's one-under round of 71 on Thursday moved him from a tie for 33rd place on day one into a tie for 20th on day two.
     
The three-day, 54-hole event will conclude with the final 18-hole round on Friday.  The Saguaro Amateur is being played at the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, which plays to a par of 72.
 
Wyoming Cowboys Individual Standings
T2        Dan Starzinski               68-71=139 (-5)
T10      Tyler Severin                 70-73=143 (-1)
T20       John Murdock               74-71=145 (+1)
T55       Jimmy Dales                  76-74=150 (+6)
T82       Jared Edeen                  75-80=155 (+11)
T89       Kirby Coe-Kirkham        73-83=156 (+12)
T89       Carl Underwood            80-76=156 (+12)
T104     Liam Clancy                   83-76=159 (+15)