April 28, 2008

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Louisiana Tech shot an opening round team total of 311 to tie for seventh place after day No. 1 of the 2008 Western Athletic Conference Men's Golf Championships held at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club.

Amrith de Soysa and Ryan Robertson shot four-over-par 76 to lead the Bulldogs who are 25 strokes off the lead but only six strokes behind third-place Fresno State. New Mexico State leads the event with a two-under-par 286 while Boise State is second at 297.

"The course played tougher than I thought it would," said Tech head coach Jean Hall. "The wind picked up and we had some tough pin placements. Amrith and Ryan shot 76 and that wasn't a bad score today."

Robertson and de Soysa are tied for 12th place in the individual scoring heading into Tuesday's second round.

Hall said his team wasn't aggressive enough in Monday's round.

"Today we played too tentatively," Hall said. "We were trying to be too careful with our shots and not make mistakes. You can't play good golf doing that. You have to trust your swing. Our game plan tomorrow is to go out and play more aggressively."

Corey Bartlett shot a seven-over-par 79 while Matthew Harvey and Chad Bailey each shot 80s.

"We have to have Matthew playing well," Hall said. "For us to be able to compete with these teams, he has to be on top of his game. He has been our leader all year long, and these next two days we have to have him."

The standings after day No. 1 are New Mexico State (286), Boise State (297), Fresno State (305), San Jose State (307), Nevada (308), Idaho (309), Tech (311), Utah State (311) and Hawaii (324).

New Mexico State's Joshua Stewart shot an opening round five-under-par 67 to lead the individual competition.