Feb. 18, 2009
WAHIAWA, Hawaii - Sophomore Nacho Elvira fired a five-under-par 67 on Wednesday to lead No. 25-ranked Texas A&M into a tie for ninth place after the opening round of the John A. Burns Intercollegiate at Leilehua Golf Course.
With a team score of two-under 286, the Aggies trail leader Arizona (276) by 10 shots going into Thursday's second round. The final round is Friday.
New Mexico is in second at 277, followed by No. 9 Arkansas (280), Brigham Young (281), Auburn (283), Nevada (284), SMU (285), UC Santa Barbara (285), A&M (286), Colorado State (286), San Diego (287), No. 20 UNLV (287), Denver (291), Hawaii (292), San Jose State (293), host Hawaii-Hilo (298) and Texas-El Paso (298).
Elvira is tied for fourth individually, three strokes behind leader Tarquin Macmanus of Arizona, who had an eight-under 64. A&M senior Matt Van Zandt, competing as an individual, is tied for 12th after carding a 69.
A&M senior Bronson Burgoon added a two-under 70 and is tied for 20th. Other A&M scores were freshman Andrea Pavan with a 75 (tied for 65th) and sophomore Conrad Shindler with a 76 (tied for 76th).
"I was really proud of the way Nacho and Bronson played," A&M Coach J.T. Higgins said. "They really played great but they didn't get much help. We should be a lot closer to the lead than we are, but we've got 36 holes left and that's a lot of golf. The guys are playing well and are capable of making a lot of birdies, so I expect us to come back tomorrow."
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