Feb. 11, 2003

HOUSTON - The University of Houston golf team returns to action Wednesday with the first two rounds of the Waikoloa Intercollegiate in the comfortable climate of Hawai'i.

UH will compete in two rounds Wednesday on the 6,594-yard, par-72 course at the Waikoloa Resort Kings' Course.

The Cougars join a competitive field, which includes Air Force, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Fresno State, Georgia Tech, host Hawai'i-Hilo, Hawai'i, Lamar, Kansas, Nagoya University, Mississippi, Nevada-Reno, Oklahoma, Oregon, Oregon State, Pepperdine, Rhode Island, USC, Stanford, Texas A&M, TCU, Texas Tech, UCLA and Washington.

UH comes into the tournament on the heels of a 15th-place finish at the Arizona Intercollegiate on Feb. 3-4. At that tournament, freshman Zach Mowbray led UH with an even-par 213, including a score of 70 in the tournament's second round.

Although he's played in only two tournaments this season, Mowbray leads the Cougars with a 73.7 scoring average.

Senior Brett Callas is second on the team with a 74.5 average and earned the team's best finish with an 18th-place showing at the Sooner Invitational on Sept. 16-17.

A year ago, the Cougars tied for ninth at this tournament.

Georgia Tech captured the team championship in 2002 and boasted of the individual winner as well in Troy Matteson.