Feb. 20, 2006

SAN ANTONIO - The Baylor men's golf team holds a three-stroke lead behind a blistering performance by senior Ryan Baca (Richmond, Texas) after the first two rounds of the UTSA Intercollegiate Monday at the 6,691-yard, par-71 Oak Hills Country Club.

Baca, who won the individual title at the event in 2004, opened the tournament with a career-low 7-under par 64, one stroke off Johnny Arreaga's school-record round of 63. Baca then followed with a 4-under par 67 for a seven-stroke lead and 36-hole total of 11-under par 131.

Junior Jeremy Frye (Palestine, Texas) is tied for ninth at 2-over par 144 after rounds of 75 and 69, while junior Jeremy Alcorn (Brownwood, Texas), the tournament's defending champion, is tied for 25th at 6-over par 148 with rounds of 75 and 73.

Sophomore Wes Williams (Franklin, Tenn.) is tied for 35th at 8-over par 150, opening with a 76 followed by a 74, while junior Chase Thomas (Dallas, Texas) is tied for 47th at 10-over par 152 with rounds of 78 and 74. Redshirt freshman Bill Allcorn (Abilene, Texas), competing individually, is tied for 58th at 12-over par 154 with rounds of 76 and 78.

The Bears shot 6-over par 290 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round, then fired a 1-under par 283 to take a three stroke lead into the final round. Lamar is in second at 576, while Louisiana-Monroe trails by seven at 580. Nebraska is in fourth 12 strokes back at 585, and Illinois State rounds out the top five, trailing by 15 strokes at 588.

Baca leads by seven strokes over Illinois State's Matt Miller, who shot 4-under par 138 after rounds of 68 and 70, and eight strokes over Lamar's Dusty Smith, who fired 3-under par 139 with rounds of 69 and 70. Louisiana-Monroe's Pat Collogan (70-71) and New Orleans' Adam Collins (73-68) are tied for fourth at 141.

The tournament concludes with the third and final round Tuesday, with tee times beginning at 8 a.m.

Individual Results
1. Ryan Baca        64-67=131
T9. Jeremy Frye     75-69=144
T25. Jeremy Alcorn  75-73=148
T35. Wes Williams   76-74=150
T47. Chase Thomas   78-74=152
*T58. Bill Allcorn  76-78=154
*Competing Individually

Team Standings
1. Baylor                  290-283=573
2. Lamar                   291-285=576
3. Louisiana-Monroe        296-284=580
4. Nebraska                292-293=585
5. Illinois State          297-291=588
6. Sam Houston State       294-297=591
T7. Wichita State          299-294=593
T7. New Orleans            304-289=593
T9. Stephen F. Austin      297-297=594
T9. College of Charleston  303-291=594
T11. Rice                  297-298=595
T11. UTSA                  301-294=595
13. UT-Pan American        303-300=603
14. Marshall               309-299=608
15. DePaul                 313-302=615
T16. Navy                  331-313=644
T16. Northern Iowa         328-316=644