Jan. 31, 2003

HOUSTON - The University of Houston golf team starts its 2003 spring season Monday at the PING Arizona Collegiate Tournament in Tucson, Ariz.

The tournament begins with 36 holes on Monday and 18 holes on Tuesday on the 6,776-yard, par-71 course at Arizona National Country Club at Sabino Springs.

The Cougars are joined by some tough competition, including No. 3 Wake Forest and host school No. 10 Arizona. Arizona State, California-Irvine, Fresno State, New Mexico, Pepperdine, Texas-El Paso, UCLA and USC also are ranked in the Top 50 for Golfweek. California, Long Beach State, Oregon and Tulsa are also scheduled to compete at the tournament.

The Cougars are lead by senior Brett Callas, who emerged in the fall as one of the key leaders on the UH golf team. His best finish in the fall came at the Sooner Invitational when he finished in the Top 20.

Freshman Zach Mowbray has proved in the fall that he is ready to play at the collegiate level, currently ranking second on the squad in average.

Senior Simon Robinson, senior John Wine and freshman Kevin Newman will also join them on the course Monday.

Fresno State won the team competition last year while Hunter Mahan of Oklahoma State took home the individual honor.