Laramie, Wyo. (Sept. 27, 2019) --  The Wyoming Cowboys were off to a strong start in Friday's afternoon round at the William H. Tucker Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M..  Wyoming finished the front nine at one-over par as a team, but three double bogeys and a triple bogey on the back nine led to a 296 (+8) second round total for the Pokes.  That combined with an opening round 300 (+12) places Wyoming in 12th place out of 16 teams at 596 (+20) entering Saturday's final round.
 
Wyoming was led by senior Dan Starzinski, who shot a 36-hole total of 145 (+1) to tie for 26th place.  He is only five shots out of the Top  10.  The rest of the Cowboy team includes junior Bryce Waters in 53rd place at 150 (+6).  Sophomore Kirby Coe-Kirkham is tied for 57th at 151 (+7).  Sophomore Tyler Severin is tied for 63rd at 152 (+8), and junior Carl Underwood is tied for Tie 76th at 155 (+11).  Redshirt freshman Liam Clancy, playing as an individual, is tied for 57th at 151 (+7).
 
Arizona fired a 36-hole total of 562 (-14) to lead the team competition by one stroke over host New Mexico.  The Lobos shot a 563 (-13) on Friday.  Individually, Peter Kuest of BYU leads by four strokes over Trevor Werbylo or Arizona.  Kuest shot a 36-hole total of 133 (-11), while Werbylo sits at 137 (-7).
  
"We had one of the low rounds of the day going in the afternoon, but we had a rough finish," said Joe Jensen, University of Wyoming Director of Golf and Head Men's Golf Coach.  "I saw some fatigue from our guys late in the afternoon round.  Dan (Starzinsk) played better today and is in good position heading into tomorrow's final round.  Bryce (Waters) had some really good holes, but had a couple of big numbers toward the end of the second round.
 
"This is a very good field of teams, and the UNM course is a high-level, championship course, so this is a good test for our young team.  I saw some good things today, but we've got to avoid the big numbers.  I'm looking forward to seeing our guys come out tomorrow and put together a complete round."
 
The tournament is being played on the UNM Championship Golf Course.  The course measures 7,555 yards and plays to a par of 72.  The third and final round will tee off on Saturday morning beginning at 7:45 a.m., M.T.