Chandler, Ariz. (April 3, 2023) -- A strong second round in difficult playing conditions powered the Wyoming Cowboys to a tie for fourth place after the first day of the Wyoming Cowboy Classic in Chandler, Ariz.  The Pokes shot a 285 (-3) in the opening round Monday morning, but it was their second round of 287 (-1) in the afternoon with the wind blowing that was key to UW's strong first day.  That 287 (-1) was one of only two sub-par rounds in the afternoon.  Tournament leader Missouri, which shot a 286 (-2), was the only other team in the 21-team field to shoot under par on Monday afternoon.
 
Missouri, 565 (-11), holds a one-stroke lead over Kansas, 566 (-10), in the team competition.  Pacific is in third at 571 (-5) and Wyoming is tied for fourth with UNLV at 572 (-4).  Loyola Marymount was only the sixth team to shoot under par on Monday, 575 (-1).  San Diego State is in seventh at 576 (Even).  Entering the  tournament, national Golfstat Rankings (As of Tuesday, March 21) rated: TCU (27), San Diego State (29), Missouri (47), Long Beach State (53), Kansas (57) and Iowa State (78).  The Sagarin Rankings (As of Thursday, March 23) included:  San Diego State (28), TCU (42), Missouri (46), Kansas (52), Long Beach State (63), Iowa State (76) and UNLV (95).  Riley Lewis of Loyola Marymount shot a a 134 (-10) in the first two rounds to hold a three-stroke lead in the individual competition over Ian Gilligan of Long Beach State, 137 (-7).
 
Senior Kirby Coe-Kirkham and sophomores Jaren Calkins and Kristof Panke are all among the Top 25 individuals.  Coe-Kirkham is tied for 17th at 142 (-2).  Calkins and Panke are tied for 21st at 143 (-1).  Junior Jimmy Dales, who is playing as an individual, is tied for 13th at 141 (-3).  Sophomore Patrick Azevedo is tied for 27th at 144 (Even), and senior Tyler Severin is tied for 79th at 151 (+7), both playing for the team.  Cowboy sophomores Cade McLaughlin and Aidan Mann are playing as individuals.  McLaughlin is tied with Severin for 79th at 151 (+7).  Mann is in 113th place at 178 (+34).   
 
"I'm grateful to our staff and to the Whirlwind Golf Club Staff for all their hard work on this tournament," said Joe Jensen, UW Director of Golf.  "We were one of only two teams to shoot under par in the second round.  Everyone played hard on our team in tough conditions.  It was a gritty day. 
 
"I love the field of teams in this tournament.  It's a competitive field.  We got off to kind of a slow start, but we played a much better second round.  We'll be playing in the final group tomorrow with Missouri, Kansas and Pacific.  I'm proud of the guys and the way they played, and I'm proud of the way Jimmy (Dales) played as an individual.
 
"For me, this event and the women's event that is going on at the same time are great for our program.  Plus we had a really nice fundraiser on Saturday that both our men and women played in with a lot of our donors, so it's bee a great few days heading into tomorrows final round."
 
The 21-team field will tee off in the third and final round on Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m., Pacific Time, in a shotgun start on the Cattail Course at the Whirlwind Golf Club at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, Ariz.  The course measures 7,334 yards and plays to a par of 72
  
Team Standings
1.   Missouri .                             279-286=565 (-11)
2.   Kansas                                272-294 =566 (-10)
3.   Pacific                                 274-297=571 (-5)
4.   Wyoming                            285-287=572 (-4)
      UNLV                                   277-295=572 (-4)
6.   Loyola Marymount               289-286=575 (-1)
7.   San Diego State                  285-291=576 (Even)
8.   UC Davis                             278-299=577 (+1)
9.   Long Beach State                287-292=579 (+3)
      UT Arlington                         279-300=579 (+3)
      Iowa State                           286-293=579 (+3)
12. TCU                                     283-301=584 (+8)
13. Denver                                 287-298=585 (+9)
14. Grand Canyon                     285-300=586 (+10)
15. St. Mary's                             281-306=587 (+11)
16. Texas El Paso                      289-299=588 (+12)       
      Weber State                         292-296=588 (+12)
18. Utah Valley                           285-307=592 (+16)
19. Utah State                            290-304=594 (+18)
20. UC Santa Barbara                300-304=604 (+28)
21. Southern Utah                      295-317=612 (+36)
 
Wyoming Cowboys Standings
T17       Kirby Coe-Kirkham         72-70=142 (-2)
T21       Jaren Calkins                  71-72=143 (-1)
T21       Kristof Panke                  69-74=143 (-1)
T27       Patrick Azevedo              73-71=144 (Even)
T79       Tyler Severin                   73-78=151 (+7)
 
Wyoming Cowboys Playing as Individuals
T13       Jimmy Dales                    69-72=141 (-3)
T79       Cade McLaughlin            73-78=151 (+7)
113       Aidan Mann                      88-90=178 (+34)