March 19, 2002
San Diego, Calif. - Western Kentucky's Hilltopper golf team enters the final 18 holes of the 54-hole USD Invitational in third place after posting a 605 team score for the 36 holes played yesterday (Monday, March 18).
John Mullendore, a junior out of Bowling Green High School, paced the Toppers through 36 holes with his 149 total, good enough to tie him for ninth in the field of 17 collegiate teams. He shot a two-over-par 74 in the opening 18 and then followed that with a 75 later in the day.
Sam Smith, a Topper freshman from London, England, shot a 152 (78-74) to finish the day in a tie for 16th.
San Diego State leads the tourney with its 13-over par 587 total, a 14-stroke edge over second place Denver (601). Western's 605 total is two shots better than Mississippi State (607), three ahead of Yale (608), five up on Rice (610) and seven better than Nebraska (612). From that point, the scores drop to 618 for host San Diego and then to 630 and beyond.
Mark Warman of San Diego State leads the individual scoring with his three-under-par 141 (68-73). He is the only golfer in the field with a subpar total on the opening day of competition. Other WKU scores were: Brandon Waldrop 154 (74-80), Eric Mason 157 (82-75) and Jared Topmiller 159 (75-84). All five Hilltopper golfers finished the first 36 holes in the top half of the 92-man field.
The tournament, hosted by the University of San Diego, is being played at Del Mar Country Club - a par 72, 6,950-yard layout - in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. The final 18 holes are scheduled for today (Tuesday, March 19).
The team scores through 36 holes are: 1) San Diego State 587, 2) Denver 601, 3) Western Kentucky 605, 4) Mississippi State 607, 5) Yale 608, 6) Rice 610, 7) Nebraska 612, 8) San Diego 618, 9) Portland 630, 10) Loyola Marymount and Connecticut 631, 12) San Francisco 638, 13) Utah 640, 14) Cal State-Northridge and Southern Utah 647, 16) Dartmouth 661, and Gonzaga 666.
The individual leaders are: 1) Mark Warman (San Diego State) 141, 2) Tony Giarratano (Denver) 145, 3) Blake Humbles (Nebraska) and Tommy Hart (Denver) 146, 5) John Liever (Sand Diego State) and Jim Troy (Nebraska) 147, 7) Neel Williams (Yale) and Lars Johansson (San Diego State) 148, 9) Kellen Maurer (Mississippi State) and John Mullendore (WKU) 149.
