Lashley remains in a tie for second place at two-under 138

TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Arizona men’s golf team carded a 16-over-par 296 Friday and slipped into 11^th place at the NCAA West Regional in Stanford, Calif.

After a solid start Thursday, which put the team in fourth place after the opening 18 holes, Arizona fell seven places down the leader board after its team score ballooned to a 36-hole total of 579 (+19).  That puts the Wildcats’ streak of 18 consecutive NCAA Championship appearances in jeopardy, as the top 10 finishing team qualify for the 2005 NCAA Championships, June 1-4, in Owings Mills, Md.

Arizona enters tomorrow’s final round one stroke behind 10^th-place USC.  A total of three strokes separate the five teams in places seven through 11.

UNLV leads the 27-team field by four strokes with a two-under 558 tally.  Brigham Young (562), Washington and New Mexico (568), and Arizona State and Pepperdine (571 (+11) fill in the top five places.

Senior Nathan Lashley continues to be the leading Wildcat, as he currently sits in a four-way tie for second place after a second-round 72 (+2).  His 138 (-2) total is four strokes off the pace set by Brigham Young’s Oscar Alvarez, who has a six-under 134 after 36 holes.

UA sophomore Henry Liaw finds himself in a tie for 21st place at three-over 143.  Teammate Josh Esler is four strokes behind Liaw in a tie for 60^th place at 147 (+7).

Senior Kipp Riehle is tied for 90^th place with an 11-over 151, while freshman Travis Esway is tied for 99^th place at 12-over 152.

The 54-hole 2005 NCAA West Regional concludes Saturday at the Stanford University Golf Course, a par 70, 6,742-yard layout.  The Wildcats tee off from No. 10 beginning at 8:15 a.m. PDT.

Top Five Teams                                Top Five Individuals

1.       UNLV                      558 (-2)                   1.  Oscar Alavarez, Brigham Young     63-71=134 (-6)

2.       Brigham Young    562 (+2)                  2.  Nathan Lashley, Arizona                  66-72=138 (-2)

3        Washington          568 (+8)                       Kevin Chappell, UCLA                        71-67=138 (-2)

          New Mexico          568 (+8)                        Pat Moore, Arizona State                    69-69=138 (-2)

5.       Pepperdine          571 (+11)                     Ryan Moore, UNLV                              69-69=138 (-2)

          Arizona State        571 (+11)

                                                                          Arizona Finishers

                                                                           T2.  Nathan Lashley  66-72=138 (-2)

                                                                         T21.  Henry Liaw         71-72=143 (+3)

                                                                         T60.  Josh Esler         72-75=147 (+7)

                                                                         T90.  Kipp Riehle       74-77=151 (+11)

                                                                         T99.  Travis Esway    75-77=152 (+12)