Tucson, Ariz. (March 20, 2021) -- Balance was the name of the game for the Wyoming Cowboys on the opening day of one of the nation's top collegiate golf tournaments -- the Arizona N.I.T.  Wyoming had its four scoring players post first day totals of -2, Even, Even and +3 for a total of +1 as a team.  The Cowboys were one of 10 teams in the 18-team field who were unable to complete their second round of the day when the tournament was halted due to darkness.  This year's Arizona N.I.T. field includes four of the nation's Top 10 ranked teams and five of the Top 20.
 
Sophomore Tyler Severin topped the scoring for the Cowboys with a combined total of -2 through the first 33 holes of the tournament and is tied for 27th in the field of 104 golfers.  There are 19 of the nation's Top 100 individual ranked golfers in the field according to Golfstat rankings, and Severin is leading or tied with 10 of those nationally-ranked individuals.  Two shots back of Severin is fellow sophomore Kirby Coe-Kirkham and junior Bryce Waters, who are tied for 45th at Even par.  Senior Dan Starzinski also enjoyed one of his best days of the 2021 spring season.  He is at +3 and is tied for 74th.  Junior Carl Underwood rounded out the Wyoming scoring with a +11 total and is in 99th place.
 
Sunday morning, Severin and Coe-Kirkham will have three holes to finish in their second round, while Waters, Starzinski and Underwood will each have two holes to complete their second round.  They are scheduled to complete their second rounds beginning at 8 a.m., M.T. (7 a.m., P.T.) followed by the third and final round.
 
Oklahoma State leads the team competition at -29 and is three strokes ahead of rival Oklahoma, which shot a -26.  Among the teams that Wyoming is leading going into the final day of the tournament on Sunday are Mountain West opponents: Nevada in 15th at +5, UNLV in 16th at +9 and Colorado State in 17th at +11.  The Pokes also lead Colorado, which is in 13th place at +3.
 
Adrien Dumont de Chassart of Illinois leads the individual race at -11.  He holds a one stroke lead over Brandon Shong of New Mexico, who is at -10.  Four other individuals are two strokes back at -9.
 
"We weren't able to finish the second round today.  They stopped play due to darkness, so we'll have a couple of holes we'll have to finish tomorrow morning before playing the final round after that," said Joe Jensen, Wyoming Director of Golf. 
 
"This is an awesome field of teams.  We're getting a lot out of playing against a field like this.  I want us to play a little tougher, and we did that today.  When you play against top teams like this it makes you play tougher.  We're getting better and trending in the right direction.  I'm certainly proud of the way the guys competed today.
 
"Tyler (Severin) got off to a slow start, but he really came back and played well in the afternoon round.  He loves being a Wyoming Cowboy and has a lot of fight.  He's playing for his teammates and his school, which is neat to see.  When you have that kind of mentality you can really raise your game.
 
"Kirby (Coe-Kirkham), Bryce (Waters) and Dan (Starzinski) all played with better confidence.  It is nice to have the kind of balance we had today.  This is the first time we've played this lineup this year.  We have six guys this year who are all capable of competing for the five spots in the lineup.  I've told them we don't need great rounds, we just need good solid play.  The guys played that way today, and that is what we need to do again tomorrow."
 
After wrapping up its second round starting at 8 a.m., M.T. (7 a.m., P.T.) Sunday morning, Wyoming will tee off the third and final round of the Arizona N.I.T.
 
 
The Arizona N.I.T is being hosted at the Omni Tucson National Catalina Course by the University of Arizona.  The course measures 7,167 yards and plays to a par of 72.
 
Team Standings From the Arizona N.I.T.
1.   Oklahoma State, 275-272=547 (-29)
2.   Oklahoma, 274-276=550 (-26)
3.   New Mexico, 277-276=553 (-23)
4.   Illinois, 277-277=554 (-22)
5.   Arizona, 277-278=555 (-21)
6.   Texas, 284-275=559 (-17)
7.   San Diego State, 280-280=560 (-16)
8.   USC, 287-284=571 (-5)
9.   Utah, 289- ?= (-4)
10.  Iowa State, 291- ?= (-1)
      Houston, 281- ?= (-1)
12.  Wyoming, 288- ?= (+1)
13.  San Diego, 290- ?= (+3)
      Colorado, 287- ?= (+3)
15.  Nevada, 288- ?= (+5)
16.  UNLV, 296- ?= (+9)
17.  Colorado State, 292- ?= (+11)
18.  Miami (Ohio), 298- ?= (+25)
 
Wyoming Cowboys Individual Standings
T27th    Tyler Severin, 73- ?= (-2)
T45th    Bryce Waters, 71- ?= (Even)
T45th    Kirby Coe-Kirkham, 72- ?= (Even)
T74th    Dan Starzinski, 72- ?= (+3)
99th     Carl Underwood, 80- ?= (+11)