Tucson, Ariz. (April 30, 2021) -- The first day of the Mountain West Conference Men's Golf Championship concluded on Friday with Wyoming sophomore Kirby Coe-Kirkham tied for 16th place after the first 36 holes of the 54-hole tournament, and the Wyoming Cowboys in ninth place in the 11-team field. 
 
Wyoming will enter Saturday's final round grouped with three other Mountain West schools within seven strokes of each other.  The Cowboys shot a two-round total of 589 (+13) and trail eighth place Fresno State by only one stroke, seventh-place San Jose State by only two strokes and sixth-place Colorado State by only seven strokes.  Fresno State sits at 588 (+12).  San Jose State is at 587 (+11), and Colorado State carries a 582 (+6) into Saturday's final round.  Boise State leads the tournament by one stroke at 570 (-6).  San Diego State is in second at 571 (-5).
 
Coe Kirkham fired a 36-hole total of 145 (+1) on Friday to tie with six other individuals for 16th place.  Four individuals are tied for 12th at 144 (Even).  Three are tied for ninth at 143 (-1), and three others are tied for sixth at 142 (-2).  Jack Trent of UNLV  leads the tournament by one stroke over Hugo Townsend of Boise State.  Trent shot a 138 (-6), while Townsend sits at 139 (-5).  Two other individuals are tied for third at 140 (-4), with one individual in fifth at 141 (-3).
 
Cowboy senior Dan Starzinski is one stroke back of Coe-Kirkham and is tied for 23rd at 146 (+2).  Junior Bryce Waters is alone in 31st place at 148 (+4).  Wyoming sophomores Tyler Severin and Jared Edeen are tied for 40th at 151 (+7).   
 
"We played solid today but we couldn't get as many putts to drop as we would have liked," said Joe Jensen, Wyoming Director of Golf and Head Men's Golf Coach.  "I think the guys came out wanting to play so well that they were a little tight, a little nervous.  But I think that shows how much our guys care.
 
"The good thing is we are in a group of teams tightly grouped together, so we have an opportunity to move up tomorrow if we can just finish off a good round.  I want the guys to relax a little bit and see if we can move up a few spots on Saturday."
 
This year's Mountain West Championship is being played at the Omni Tucson National Golf Course.  The course measures 7,194 yards and plays to a par of 72.
 
The Cowboys will tee off in Saturday's final round starting at 7:40 a.m., Pacific Time (8:40 a.m., Mountain Time).  Wyoming will play in a pairing with Fresno State in the final round.
 
Team Standings
1.   Boise State, 280-290=570 (-6)
2.   San Diego State, 284-287=571 (-5)
3.   UNLV, 289-284=573 (-3)
4.   Nevada, 292-282=574 (-2)
5.   New Mexico, 290-286=576 (Even)
6.   Colorado State, 294-288=582 (+6)
7.   San Jose State, 295-292=587 (+11)
8.   Fresno State, 299-289=588 (+12)
9.   Wyoming, 296-293=589 (+13)
10.  Utah State, 305-299=604 (+28)
11.  Air Force, 306-305=611 (+35)
 
Wyoming Cowboys Team Members
T16      Kirby Coe-Kirkham        75-70=145 (+1)
T23      Dan Starzinski               73-73=146 (+2)
31        Bryce Waters                 73-75=148 (+4)
T40       Tyler Severin                 76-75=151 (+7)
T40      Jared Edeen                  75-76=151 (+7)