Azevedo, Coe-Kirkham Place 20th and 27th at Arizona N.I.T.

* University of Wyoming press release

TUCSON, Ariz., -- Wyoming Cowboys Patrick Azevedo and Kirby Coe-Kirkham finished the week with outstanding rounds at the University of Arizona N.I.T. on Saturday to place 20th and 27th, respectively, against one of the best tournament fields in the country.

Azevedo lit up the course with a 68 (-4) on Saturday to move up 25 spots into a tie for 20th in the field of 84 collegiate golfers. Coe-Kirkham fired a 70 (-2) to move up nine places into a tie for 27th.

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The two each finished ahead of seven of the Top 50 ranked players in the country. As a team, the Cowboys shot their best combined round of the tournament with a 286 (-2), finishing 13th in the elite field of 13 teams that included nine teams ranked in the Top 30 in the nation.

Azevedo entered Saturday’s final round tied for 45th place at 145 (+1). His final round of 68 (-4) vaulted him up the standings 25 positions into 20th place with a final 54-hole total of 213 (-3). His round of 68 tied for the seventh best round on Saturday.

Coe-Kirkham also posted a sub-par round of 70 (-2) to move him up nine positions from 36th entering the final round to 27th at 214 (-2). Wyoming’s other three team members were Jaren Calkins and Kristof Panke, who both tied for 69th at 222 (+6), and Tyler Severin, who tied for 79th at 225 (+9).

Host Arizona entered the final round in second place, trailing Southern California by four strokes. The Wildcats fired a 279 (-9) on Saturday to improve to 840 (-24) for the tournament and capture the team title by one stroke over Pepperdine.

The Pepperdine Waves shot the best round of the day with a 270 (-18) to move up seven spots from ninth to second, with a three-round total of 841 (-23). Arizona entered the tourney ranked No. 18 and Pepperdine was ranked No. 9. Arizona State, ranked No. 2, finished third at 842 (-22) one stroke back of Pepperdine.

Illinois, ranked No. 4, and Oklahoma State, ranked No. 22, tied for fourth at 843 (-21) one stroke back of Arizona State. First day leader USC, finished sixth at 847 (-17).

Jackson Rivera of Southern California and Zach Pollo of Arizona tied for medalist honors at 203 (-13).

Entering the tournament the Golfstat national college golf rankings broke down as follows: Arizona State (No. 2), Illinois (4), Pepperdine (9), Florida (12), Oklahoma (13), Arizona (18), Colorado State (21), Oklahoma State (22), San Diego State (27), New Mexico (56), San Diego (57), USC (68) and Wyoming (111).

The Arizona N.I.T. was played at the Omni Tucson National Golf Club, which measures 7,200 yards and plays to a par of 72.

Wyoming’s next tournament will be the Wyoming Cowboy Classic in Chandler, Ariz., on Monday and Tuesday, April 3-4.

Team Standings

1. Arizona 282-279-279=840 (-24)

2. Pepperdine 286-285-270=841 (-23)

3. Arizona State 274-288-280=842 (-22)

4. Illinois 280-285-278=843 (-21)

Oklahoma State 284-285-274=843 (-21)

6. Southern California 283-274-290=847 (-17)

7. Florida 282-285-283=850 (-14)

8. Colorado State 290-287-279=856 (-8)

9. New Mexico 280-287-291=858 (-6)