April 10, 2000

Wichita, Kan. - The University of Missouri men's golf team stands in eighth place after two rounds of the Diet Pepsi/Shocker Classic, which is being held at Crestview Country Club, in Wichita, Kan. The final 18 holes will be contested Tuesday.

The Tigers got off to a slow start, as a first-round team score of 316 left them tied for 13th in the 15-team tournament. But things turned for the better in the afternoon round, as MU improved by a whopping 28 strokes in the second round, with a team score of 288. That represented the second-best team round of the day by any team, and was strong enough to boost the Tigers into 8th place overall. MU's 604 two-round total is 29 strokes back of leader Arkansas State (575), but is just four shots shy of 5th-place Southwest Missouri State (600).

Individually, sophomore Mark McBride stands tied for 19th, with a two-round total of 150. He's 11 shots back of leader Jason Jackson of Arkansas State (139), but is just three shots out of the top-10. McBride recovered from an opening-round 80 to post a two-under par 70 in the afternoon, which was the 4th-best single round of the day in the tournament.

Senior David Suggs, returning to the lineup after missing MU's last tournament due to injured ribs, opened with an uncharacteristic 79, but rebounded to fire an even-par 72 in the second round. His 151 total for two rounds left him tied for 26th individually.

Junior Tom Vogt stood just one stroke back of Suggs, tied for 32nd with a total of 152. He had rounds of 79 and 73.

Freshman Stowe Kidder made his first appearance of the spring season, and is tied for 46th place, with a 154 total through two rounds. He shot scores of 81 and 73.

Sophomore Neal Stafford is tied for 50th after rounds of 78 and 77 left him with a total of 155.