Maricopa, Ariz. (Jan. 2, 2019) --  University of Wyoming junior Dan Starzinski fired an opening round of four-under par 68 on Wednesday to tie for the first round lead at the 2019 Saguaro Amateur being played at the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz.  Starzinski is tied with Jacob Pedersen of Shorewood, Minn.
     
All eight members of the 2018-19 Cowboy golf roster are playing as individuals in the amateur event.  A second Cowboy, freshman Tyler Severin, is also in the Top Five following the first round.   Severin shot a two-under round of 70 on Wednesday to tie for fifth place.  Only nine players in the field of 112 amateurs ended the day under par.
     
Another UW freshman, Kirby Coe-Kirkham, is tied for 24th at 73 (+1).  Cowboy senior John Murdock is tied for 33rd at 74 (+2), and redshirt freshman Jared Edeen is the fourth Cowboy in the Top 50 after the opening round.  Edeen is at 75 (+3) to tie for 49th.  Fresman Jimmy Dales sits one shot back of Edeen at 76 (+4) to tie for 60th. 
     
Rounding out the group of Cowboys in the field were sophomore Carl Underwood, who shot an eight-over par round of 80 to tie for 92nd, and freshman Liam Clancy, who is tied for 104th at 83 (+11).
     
"I'm happy for Dan (Starzinski)," said UW Director of Golf Joe Jensen.  "I started having our players participate in these amateur events between semesters five or six years ago to get them some winter-time reps.  This has obviously grown into a five-tournament series, with this being kind of the big one for us.
     
"There are a lot of college players in these events, probably around 40 different universities represented.
     
"It certainly has the feel of a high-end college or a high-end amateur event, so for Dan to be playing well in his home state is great for him.  He is of course from  Phoenix, but today was very unlike Arizona weather.  It has been very cool.  We had some frost issues this morning, and will again tomorrow.  We're planning for an 11 a.m. shotgun start tomorrow. 
     
"For all our guys, top to bottom, it is important to come here, compete and get in some quality rounds.  It is also a chance for me to see our guys play more, and for them to get some work in and some practice in.
     
"Being involved in running the event, I'm not actively doing any coaching but it is great to have our guys here and competing.  It is also good for them to be together some during the break between semesters as teammates."
     
Jensen serves as Vice Chairman of the Troon Saguaro Amateur Series.
     
The cooler weather, with overnight temperatures in the 20s, improved to a high of only 51 on Wednesday under sunny skies.  The early morning frost delayed the start of the first round.  A total of 11 individuals out of the field of 112 were unable to finish the opening round on Wednesday.  Those 11 individuals were on holes 16 and 17 to end the day and will finish their opening round on Thursday morning prior to the second day's round beginning.
     
The three-day, 54-hole event will continue with an 18-hole round on Thursday followed by 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
T1        Dan Starzinski               68 (-4)
T5        Tyler Severin                 70 (-2)
T24       Kirby Coe-Kirkham        73 (+1)
T33       John Murdock               74  (+2)
T49       Jared Edeen                  75 (+3)
T60       Jimmy Dales                  76 (+4)
T92       Carl Underwood            80 (+8)
T104     Liam Clancy                   83 (+11)