May 15, 2003

MANHATTAN, Kan. - University of Houston golf Brett Callas fired a 71 in the opening round of the NCAA Central Regional to stand in a tie for 30th place.

Callas, who was one of six individual golfers to be invited to the Central Regional, shot a 36 during his first nine holes but rebounded to record a pair of birdies during his final nine holes on the 7,288-yard, par-72 course at Colbert Hills Country Club.

The Top 10 Teams and top two individual golfers not on those teams qualify for the 2003 NCAA Championships on May 27-30 at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla.

The second round at the NCAA Central Regional begins at 7:30 a.m., Friday.

Illinois stood atop the team leaderboard at 13-under-par 275, two strokes ahead of SMU and three strokes better than Kentucky.

North Carolina State's Jason Moon grabbed the early individual lead after shooting 6-under-par 66 during the first day of competition. Will Dodson (SMU), Matt Kohn (Kentucky), James Lepp and Patrick Nagle (both of Illinois) tied for second at 67.