March 21, 2005
STEVINSON, Calif. - After posting two of the top five overall team rounds at the first day of the Stevinson Ranch Invitational, the Missouri men's golf team is comfortably in second place at Stevinson Ranch GC. The tournament, hosted by Colorado, is intended to give the majority of the schools in the NCAA's District 5 a chance to compete head-to-head.
"We're kind of excited. We've got a second life this spring season, and I think the guys all see that and hope to take advantage of it," Head Coach Mark Leroux said. "Chris Zeller did a great job for being in the lineup for the first time. He saved us seven strokes today (compared to the fifth score), so that's pretty good. It was in place of a different guy each round, and that's what it's all about.
"We haven't played awful all at the same time, but we still haven't all played great at the same time. We'll just come back out Tuesday and try to do that."
The morning began with a team score of 1-over-par 289, aided by a 2-under 70 from junior Chris Mabry (Leawood, Kan. / Bishop Miege HS), and even-par 72's from junior Ben Scott (Lancashire, United Kingdom / St. Theodore's HS) and sophomore John Kelly (St. Louis, Mo. / Christian Brothers College HS). That left the Tigers in third place, just one stroke behind Nebraska and three back of Kansas.
Mizzou held firm in the afternoon, getting a team 2-over 290 while many of the other teams spun their wheels. The Tigers were also able to overtake the Huskers, as Nebraska faltered to a 296 in the second round. MU will begin the final round five strokes clear of Big Red, and also five behind the Jayhawks. Mabry and Scott both carded 71's, while freshman Chris Zeller (Branson, Mo. / Branson HS) and sophomore Shawn Jasper (Marthasville, Mo. / Francis Howell North HS / Newman Univ.) both posted scores of 2-over 74 to bolster the Mizzou effort.
Mabry is tied with NU's Brady Schnell for fifth, while Scott is two strokes back at even par, alone in ninth to join his classmate in the top 10 for Mizzou. Zeller and Kelly are in a five-way tie for 26th at 5-over 149; and Jasper is in a six-way tie for 44th at 9-over.
The final 18 holes will start Tuesday morning with an 8 a.m. PST shotgun format.
MIZZOU MEN'S GOLF
at the Stevinson Ranch Invitational - Stevinson, Calif.
Stevinson Ranch GC - 7,205 yards / par 72
TEAM STANDINGS THROUGH 36 of 54 HOLES (top five plus MU) - 1. Kansas, 286-287--573; 2. Missouri, 289-290--579; 3. Nebraska, 288-296--584. 4. (tie), Colorado, 293-292--585 and Denver, 291-294--585.
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS (top five plus other MU finishers) - 1. Kevin Ward (KU), 68-64--132; 2. (tie), Edward McGlasson (CU), 70-69--139; Ben Kern (KSU), 71-68--139; and James Love (DEN), 70-69--139; 5. (tie), Chris Mabry (MU), 70-71--141 and Brady Schnell (NU), 70-71--141; 9. Ben Scott (MU), 72-71--143; T26. Chris Zeller (MU), 75-74--149 and John Kelly (MU), 72-77--149; T44. Shawn Jasper (MU), 79-74--153.