Men?s Golf Opens NCAA West Regional in Fourth Place

DALY CITY, Calif. -- Oregon opened play in the 2009 NCAA West Regional with a first round 282 that left the Ducks in fourth place Thursday at the par-72, 6,849-yard Lake Merced Golf Club. The top five teams from Lake Merced advance to the NCAA Championships May 27-30 at Toledo, Ohio.

Like they have all season, the Ducks didn't rely on one player to carry the day. Instead, Oregon counted a pair of 3-under 69s from freshman Daniel Miernicki and Robbie Ziegler and pair of level-par 72 from sophomore Isaiah Telles and Eugene Wong.

Miernicki and Ziegler were tied for sixth overall, four shots back of USC's Matthew Giles. Telles and Wong were tied for 20th. Giles' 7-under par 65 was one shot off the course record.

Sophomore Jesper Kennegard's opening-round 66 helped Arizona State take the first day lead at 9-under 279. New Mexico was a shot back at 280, with Texas A&M at 281, Oregon at 282 and USC at 285. San Diego State was just outside the top five at 286, with San Diego (288) and UC Irvine (289) lurking.

Miernicki, from Santee, Calif., was even for most of the day until playing his final four holes in three under par. Starting his day on the back nine, he bogeyed 11 and birdied 14, before closing with an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole and a birdie on the par-5 ninth.

Ziegler's round included seven birdies and four bogeys. The Canby, Ore., native closed with two birdies on his last three holes.

Oregon's non-counter, Jack Dukeminier, was solid as well on Thursday with a 1-over 73. His double-bogey on No. 16 spoiled what would have been a red number round for the sophomore from Eugene, Ore.

The 54-hole tournament continues with the second round on Friday and concludes Saturday.

NCAA West Regional

Lake Merced Golf Club

Daly City, Calif.

6,849-yards, par-72

First Round

Team Scores

1, Arizona State, 279. 2, New Mexico, 280. 3, Texas A&M, 281. 4, Oregon, 282. 5, USC, 285. 6, San Diego State, 286. 7. San Diego, 288. 8, UC Irvine, 289. T9, Colorado, 291; San Francisco, 291. 11, Kansas State, 294. 12, UC Davis, 298. 13, Oregon State, 300.

Top Individuals

1, Matthew Giles, USC, 65. 2, Jesper Kennegard, Arizona State, 66. T3, John Hurley, Texas A&M, 67; Steve Saunders, New Mexico, 67; Brady Johnson, Brigham Young, 67. T6, Knut Borsheim, Arizona State, 69; Bronson Burgoon, Texas A&M, 69; James Erkenbeck, New Mexico, 69; Daniel Miernicki, Oregon, 69; Robbie Ziegler, Oregon, 69.

Other Oregon Individuals

T20, Isaiah Telles, 72; Eugene Wong, 72. T37, Jack Dukeminier, 73 .

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