May 16, 2002
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Army golf team waited seven years for this moment as it returns to the NCAA Central Regional sitting in 26th place after the first round Thursday at the Pleasant Valley Golf Course in Little Rock, Ark.
Freshman Scott Manley shot a four-over-par 76 to lead the Black Knights in the opening 18-holes. The Patriot League "Player of the Year" sits tied for 67th place after the first day. Manley was the lone Army golfer to make eagle with a three on the par-five fourth hole. Manley shot par on 13 holes, bogeyed three holes and double-bogeyed one hole.
Seniors Pete Mangold and David Crawford sit tied for 113th after a first round 80. Mangold birdied the seventh and 18th holes and shot par on six holes. Crawford shot birdie on the fourth, 11th and 18th holes and pared six holes.
Kevin Lee sits tied for 133th following a first round 83. Ryan Hazelton rounds out Army golfers in 136th place with an 85.
In first place is Oklahoma State with a total of 287. TCU's Bret Guetz and Oklahoma State's John Kidwell are tied for the lead of the individual race with a four-under-par 68. Army was seeded 26th heading into the regional.
"We came out slow and struggled a lot with the first nine holes," said Army head coach Jimmy Ray Clevenger. "We came out a little tight. After seven holes we started to relax but we did not recover well.
"High winds made the playing conditions difficult. As the day went on the wind calmed down, that is unusual.
"The team is a disappointed. They want to come out tomorrow and show what they are capable."
The Black Knights' appearance at the 2002 NCAA Regional is the seventh time Army has been represented at the NCAAs. Army participated in the NCAA Championship in 1986 and the NCAA East Regional in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1995.
Army won the 2002 Patriot League Championship on April 21, 2002 by an impressive 29 strokes to earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals.
The Black Knights will tee off the second round of the NCAA Central Regional at 1:36 p.m. EDT.
TOP FIVE STANDINGS/ARMY 1. Oklahoma State 287 2. Kansas 289 Oklahoma 289 TCU 289 5 Purdue 290 26. Army 319ARMY GOLFERS T67. Scott Manley 76 T113. Pete Mangold 80 T113. David Crawford 80 T133. Kevin Lee 83 T136. Ryan Hazelton 85
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