May 19, 2011

TUCSON, Ariz. - Loyola University Maryland golfers had just two birdies on the back nine Thursday, and the Greyhounds finished the first day of the NCAA Southwest Regional in 14th place with a team score of 310, at the par-71 Omni Tucson National Resort.

Patrick McCormick had one of the Greyhounds' birdies, on the par-5 10th hole, and he finished with Loyola's best round of the day. McCormick is tied for 59th overall after carding a 5-over par 76.

McCormick had strung together seven-straight pars on holes three through nine after opening the round 3-over through two.

Jason Burton did not record a birdie on the day, but he had Loyola's second-best score, a 6-over 77, tying him for 63rd. He tallied six pars to open his round and was 1-over at the turn after bogeying the par-3 seventh hole. After a par on the 10th hole, Burton played 11 and 12 at 3-over, and he then suffered bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes.

Jonathan Ross had three birdies, the most by a Loyola player on Thursday, but a quad on the par-4 13th hole scuttled his round. He finished at 7-over par and is tied for 69th.

Ryan McCarthy was a shot behind Ross and tied for 71st at 8-over par 79, while Will Handley shot 11-over par 82 to place 74th.

San Diego State leads the team race with a first-round score of 278, while Washington, Liberty and host Arizona are one, two and three shots back, respectively. UC-Davis' Matt Hansen is on top of the individual standings after shooting 7-under 64.

The Greyhounds and the rest of the field will continue in Tucson on Friday.