Without Penner, UNLV golf 10th after first round
The UNLV men’s golf team had it tough Friday at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters, but Kevin Penner had it tougher.
The Rebels sophomore came down with food poisoning the night before and was throwing up so much that he had to withdraw after four holes in the first round Friday, even though he was 1 under.
With Penner out, short-handed UNLV struggled to a 15-over 303 at Southern Highlands, good for 10th place, 23 shots behind leader Texas A&M.
The Aggies’ Jordan Russell led by five shots after an 8-under 64.
Arizona State was 12 shots back in second at 292, with Texas, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State and California all tied for third at 294.
UNLV coach Dwaine Knight was philosophic about the Rebels’ sickening first round.
”Those things happen in life,” he said. ”You’ve got to play through it, and, unfortunately, we didn’t respond very well.”
Knight admired Penner’s courage for trying to play.
”He had it coming out of both ends,” Knight said of Penner’s nausea and diarrhea. ”He tried to play through it, but he couldn’t continue.
”Obviously, it was tough playing without Kevin.”
Freshman Blake Biddle and junior Derek Ernst were UNLV’s best golfers, each shooting 2-over 74. Senior Jeremiah Wooding carded a 77, and junior Colby Smith had a 78.
If Penner is healthy enough to compete when the Rebels tee off at 8:18 a.m. today from the No. 10 tee, UNLV will be able to use his score and perhaps move up the leaderboard. But their dreams of winning the event for the fourth consecutive year were all but shattered Friday.
”We’ve got two more days to try to get better,” Knight said.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or at 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.
