Provo, Utah (April 21, 2023) --  It was an outstanding first day for the Wyoming Cowboys at the BYU PING Cougar Classic on Friday in Provo, Utah.  Wyoming posted a first round score of 276 (-12) in the morning round to tie for third with Nevada.  The afternoon round was played under rainy conditions, and the Cowboys maintained their strong play, finishing in sole possession of third in the 16-team field with a 36-hole total of 567 (-9).  Sophomore Cowboys Patrick Azevedo and Jaren Calkins led the way for the Pokes tying for 14th at 140 (-4).  The final round will be played Saturday morning.
 
Junior Jimmy Dales was the third Cowboy to post a sub-par total for the first 36 holes, tying for 22nd at 142 (-2).  Senior Tyler Severin will enter Saturday's final round tied for 45th at 145 (+1), and fellow senior and Kirby Coe-Kirkham is tied for 51st at 146 (+2).  Two other Cowboy sophomores are playing in the tournament as individuals.  Those two sophomores are Kristof Panke, tied for 26th at 143 (-1), and Cade McLaughlin, tied for 58th at 147 (+3).
 
"We played well as a group today," said UW head coach Joe Jensen.  "I'm proud of the way Pat (Azevedo) and Jaren (Calkins) played.  Jimmy (Dales) also had a nice day.  Tyler (Severin) and Kirby (Coe-Kirkham) fell back a little bit in the afternoon round.  Kirby didn't play that badly, he just had a tough day putting.  I'm really pleased with the way the guys continued to compete in not easy conditions this afternoon.  We're going to get a good night's sleep and get after it again tomorrow."
 
The Cowboys trail No. 44 ranked BYU, which is leading the team competition, and second-place Utah Valley.  BYU posted a two-round total of 543 (-33).  Utah Valley shot a 561 (-15).  The Pokes entered the Cougar Classic ranked 104 in the most recent Golfstat rankings out of 305 college golf teams.  UW leads two teams that are ranked ahead of them in the national rankings -- No. 56 ranked Colorado and No. 84 New Mexico State.
 
The individual lead is held by Max Charles of Boise State, who holds a four-stroke lead at 131 (-13).  In second place are Brock Goyen of BYU and Caden Weber of Utah Valley, who both shot 135 (-9).  Four other individuals are tied for fourth at 136 (-8), including two-time Cougar Classic defending champion Carson Lundell of BYU.
 
The final round of the 58th Annual Cougar Classic will be played Saturday beginning at 9 a.m.  Wyoming is scheduled to tee off beginning at 10:10 a.m.  The tournament is being played at Riverside Country Club in Provo, Utah.  The course measures 7,142 yards and plays to a par of 72. 
 
Team Standings
1.   Brigham Young                    273-270=543 (-33)
2.   Utah Valley                          271-290=561 (-15)
3.   Wyoming                            276-291=567 (-9)
4.   CSU - Northridge                 278-290=568 (-8)
5.   Hawaii                                  277-292=569 (-7)
6.   New Mexico State                281-289=570 (-6)
7.   Nevada                                276-295=571 (-5)
      Boise State                          280-291=571 (-5)
9.   Gonzaga                              278-294=572 (-4)
10. Denver                                 291-283=574 (-2)
11. St. Mary's                             284-292=576 (Even)
12. Colorado                              289-288=577 (+1)
13. Utah Tech                            285-296=581 (+5)
14. UC Santa Barbara               286-299=585 (+9)
15. UC San Diego                      291-296=587 (+11)
16. California Baptist                  291-298=589 (+13)
 
Wyoming Cowboys' Standings
T14       Patrick Azevedo             68-72=140 (-4)
T14       Jaren Calkins                 70-70=140 (-4)
T22       Jimmy Dales                  68-74=142 (-2)
T45       Tyler Severin                  70-75=145 (+1)
T51       Kirby Coe-Kirkham         71-75=146 (+2)
 
Wyoming Cowboys Playing as Individuals
T26       Kristof Panke                  71-72=143 (-1)
T58       Cade McLaughlin            74-73=147 (+3)