Tucson, Ariz. (April 27, 2019) --  Another outstanding day by the University of Wyoming men's golf team saw them move up one spot in the team standings, tying Nevada for seventh place, and saw three Cowboy golfers remain among the individual leaders in the tournament with one 18-hole round left to play on Sunday.  Cowboys John Murdock and Kirby Coe-Kirkham are tied for eighth place at 139 (-5) and Dan Starzinski, is tied for 15th at 140 (-4).  The individual leader is Sean Carlon of New Mexico, who sits at 135 (-9).
 
The Cowboys shot a 282 (-6) round on Saturday to go with their opening round of 284 (-4) for a 36-hole total of 566 (-10).  The Pokes made 21 birdies and an eagle as a team on Saturday.  Starzinski led the way with six birdies.  Murdock had five.  Coe-Kirkham had four birdies and the one eagle of the day for the Pokes, and the freshman from Sheridan had the low round of the day for the Cowboys with a 68 (-4).  Starzinski fired a 69 (-3), and Murdock shot a 70 (-2).  The Cowboys other two golfers, Jimmy Dales 148 (+4) for the tournament and Tyler Severin 153 (+9) are in 46th and 54th place, respectively 
 
An indication of how well the entire tournament field played on Saturday was the number of teams who shot sub-par rounds.  Nine of the 11 teams shot under par rounds on Saturday. 
 
"There are a lot of good teams making a lot of birdies out here today," said Joe Jensen, UW Director of Golf and Head Coach.  "But we made our share of them, and I'll take that type of round for our team.  It was a battle today, but when teams are making birdies all around you, you better figure out a way to make some yourself.
 
"Like I said yesterday, I'm proud of the way the guys are playing.  John (Murdock), Kirby (Coe-Kirkham) and Dan (Starzinski) all played well again today.  Dan bogeyed the last hole, which I know he was disappointed by, but they are all three right there.  Tyler (Severin) was playing well too, but then he finished with a bogey, bogey, double on the final three holes or he would have shot an even par round.
 
"We just have to come out and play hard again tomorrow.  I'm pleased with the energy.  I'm pleased with the focus.  The reality is we need to go play one more round tomorrow better than we played today.  The guys have elevated their play this week.  We have to figure out how to do it one more day."
 
The team competition has Colorado State leading the field at 554 (-22).  UNLV shot the lowest round of the tournament on Saturday, a 274 (-14) to improve their 36-hole total to 556 (-20), two strokes back of CSU.  New Mexico is in third at 557 (-19), followed by: San Diego State in fourth (561, -15); Fresno State in fifth (563, -13); Boise State in sixth (565, -11); and then the Cowboys tied for seventh with Nevada at 566 (-10).  San Jose State (572, -4), Utah State (582, +6) and Air Force (586, +10) are in ninth, 10th and 11th, respectively.
 
The 2019 Mountain West Championship is being played on the OMNI Tucson National Catalina Course in Tucson, Ariz.  The course plays to a par of 72 and measures 7,194 yards.  Wyoming will tee off Sunday starting at 8:40 a.m., M.T. (7:40 a.m., P.T.).  The Cowboys will be paired with San Jose State in the third and final round on Sunday.
 
Team Standings
1.   Colorado State                    279-275=554 (-22)
2.   UNLV                                  282-274=556 (-20)
3.   New Mexico                        279-278=557 (-19)
4.   San Diego State                   281-280=561 (-15)
5.   Fresno State                        282-281=563 (-13)
6.   Boise State                          280-285=565 (-11)
7.   Wyoming                           284-282=566 (-10)
      Nevada                                283-283=566 (-10)
9.   San Jose State                     290-282=572 (-4)
10.  Utah State                          288-294=582 (+6)
11. Air Force                             294-292=586 (+10)
 
Wyoming Cowboys' Individual Standings
T8         John Murdock               69-70=139 (-5)
T8         Kirby Coe-Kirkham        71-68=139 (-5)
T15       Dan Starzinski               71-69=140 (-4)
T46       Jimmy Dales                  73-75=148 (+4)
54         Tyler Severin                 77-76=153 (+9)