Sept. 8, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - The No. 24 UAB men's golf team shot an 11-over par 579 (288-291) and is in second overall through two rounds of the San Francisco Intercollegiate. The event is the first tournament of the fall season for the Blazers.

"I am real pleased with the way we played," UAB head coach Alan Kaufman said. "This is a very tough golf course and for us to play this well in our first tournament in this is an encouraging sign. We have to play well tomorrow to have a chance to win."

Leading the way for UAB is sophomore Blake Watts, who is playing in his first collegiate tournament and had an impressive showing. Watts finished with rounds of even par 71 and two-over par 73 on the par-71, 6,833-yard Olympic Club Golf Course. The Fort Payne, Ala. native is tied for sixth overall with a 144 entering Sunday's final 18 holes.

Two-time All-American senior Zack Sucher (75-70) and junior Blake West (73-72) also performed well, both coming in at three-over par 145 through the opening 36 holes. Sucher made the biggest improvement from round one to round two, bettering his first-round 75 by five strokes with a one-under par 70 in the second round.

Junior Adam West shot the best round of the day with a two-under par 69 during the opening 18 holes, but his second round 77 dropped him to a tie for 19th overall with a 146. Junior John Darby, also competing in his first career tournament, rounded out the Blazers with a 156 (80-76).

California leads the 15-team field with an even par 568 (287-281), entering the final 18 holes. Xavier is just three strokes behind UAB with a 582, while Colorado (583) and San Diego (584) round out the top five.

The third and final round will take place on Tuesday morning with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. CT (8 a.m. PT).