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TCU golf team within striking distance after first round of regional
Horned Frogs just one stroke out of 10th place after shooting 293 (+9)
May 18, 2006 CHARDON, Ohio - The 14th-seeded TCU Horned Frogs used a strong finish, including a trio of counting birdies on the 18th hole, to move into 11th place after day one of the NCAA Central Regional. On the first of three rounds, TCU totaled a 9-over-par 293 to sit just three shots out of sixth place and one stroke behind the coveted 10th position. TCU's four counting scorers each played the final four holes bogey-free and were 3-under as a unit. As a result, the Horned Frogs moved up four spots on the leaderboard over that time. Second-ranked and top-seeded Oklahoma State leads the tournament after posting a 4-under-par 280. Northwestern (281) is one stroke back, while third-seeded Texas A&M resides in third place after a 284 (E). Just seven shots separate sixth place and 17th position in a strong field. The 27-team Central Regional features four teams ranked in the nation's top 10 and 18 top-50 schools. Among the teams that TCU bettered on day one were fourth-ranked Georgia Tech (295) and eighth-rated Clemson (296). Teams had to contend with miserable conditions at the Sand Ridge Golf Club (par 71, 7,173 yards), as winds of 15-20 miles per hour went along with intermittent drizzle and temperatures in the 50s. Just 16 of the field's 141 golfers broke par on Thursday. More of the same weather is expected on Friday and Saturday for the final two rounds of the event. TCU's top performer was true freshman Jon McLean. The Westin, Fla. product scored a 1-over 72 to rank tied for 25th place individually. He played 2-under over the final seven holes to pace the Frogs. Another true freshman, Tom Miles, also shined. Playing in his home state, the Dublin, Ohio, native started and finished the day with birdies. As a result, he is tied for the 34th position at 73 (+2). Junior Drew Stoltz, the only TCU golfer with previous NCAA Regional experience, also posted a 2-over 73. He made birdies on Nos. 14 and 18 to match Miles' score. Stoltz led the Horned Frogs with a 36th-place landing at the 2005 Central Regional. Sophomore Franklin Corpening was even through 12 holes, but back-to-back double bogeys on Nos. 13 and 14 took him to plus-4, a figure he would remain at the rest of the way. With a 75, the Fort Worth native is tied for 63rd position. Drew Laning (T-91st) notched a 6-over 77. The senior bounced back from a 5-over-par first nine to register a 37 (+1) on the back side. TCU begins second-round action off No. 10 Friday at 7:35 a.m. (CDT). Live hole-by-hole scoring of the 54-hole tournament will be available on www.golfstat.com. The top 10 squads advance to the NCAA Championships at the end of the month. -www.gofrogs.com- Team Results TCU Individual Results
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