Feb. 22, 2004

MANDEVILLE, La. - The University of Houston golf team returns to abbreviated action Monday when it competes at the Beau Chene Collegiate Classic in Mandeville, La.

The Cougars join host Southeastern Louisiana, Campbell, Drake, Iowa State, Kansas State, Louisiana Tech, McNeese State, Memphis, Ole Miss, Nicholls State, Sam Houston State, Southern Miss, Stephen F. Austin and Troy State on the 6,725-yard, par-72 course at Beau Chene Country Club.

Originally scheduled for 54 holes, the tournament was recently shortened to only 36 holes due to a scheduling conflict. The teams will play both rounds beginning Monday morning.

UH enters the tournament after finishing in a tie for 20th place at the Waikoloa Intercollegiate on Feb. 11-13. At that event, sophomore co-captain Zach Mowbray was the team's leading performer, shooting a 2-under-par 214 to finish in a tie for 24th place. The Mesa, Ariz., native fired back-to-back 71s over the final two rounds.

Senior co-captain Denton Walker leads the Cougars with a 73.9 scoring average but is only one stroke better than freshman Ricky Romano. That duo joins Mowbray and Jordan Hasbrouck as the only UH linksters to play in all five tournaments to date this season.