Ragin’ Cajuns Open Spring Season At Rice

<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Winberg led Cajuns tied for sixth after two rounds</b>

CYPRESS, Texas- The University of Louisiana golf team opened the 2004 spring season here Monday in the fourth annual 14-team Rice Intercollegiate at the Blackhorse Golf Club. The Ragin’ Cajuns combined for a two-round total of 598 (303-295) and find themselves tied for sixth with Mississippi State (305-293) heading into the final round. The University of Denver leads the competition after a two-round total of eight over par at 584 (290-294).

Louisiana senior Tobias Winberg (72-74, +2) fired an opening par round of 72 and finished the day tied for 11th overall following a second round of two-over par. Winberg trails tournament leader James Love (70-69, -5) of Denver by seven strokes going into Tuesday’s final round and is looking to improve on a 12-over par finish of 31st in last year’s tournament.

Rounding out the top 30 for the Ragin’ Cajuns are juniors Marc Noel (76-74, +6), tied for 22nd overall and Steven Pena (79-72, +7), tied for 29th overall.

Other Ragin’ Cajun notables include sophomore Spence Girouard (76-78, +10), tied for 46th and senior Matt Smith (85-75, +16), tied for 66th.

Louisiana will be looking to avenge a disappointing 12th place finish in last year’s tournament when the final 18 holes resume Tuesday morning with a shotgun start at 8 am.<hr><b>Day One Results</b>

Fin. Teams Scores
1 Denver 290 294 584
2 UT-San Antonio 298 290 588
3 North Texas 302 291 593
4 Texas State 298 296 594
6 Louisiana 303 295 598

Mississippi State 305 293 598
8 San Diego 305 298 603
Stephen F. Austin St. 309 294 603
10 Virginia 301 303 604
11 Sam Houston State 312 293 605
12 UT-Arlington 310 299 609
13 Rice University 309 303 612
14 UT-Pan American 312 319 631



Fin. Top 20 Players School Scores
1 James Love Denver 70 69 139
2 Rudy Celedon UTPA 72 71 143
Brad Gibson N. Texas 73 70 143
Barrett Jarosch Denver 71 72 143
5 Mike Mezei UTSA 72 72 144
6 Jimmy Harris San Diego 75 70 145
Kevin Messer Texas State 74 71 145
Cole Isban Notre Dame 75 70 145
D. Robert Jefferson Sam Houst. 72 73 145
Thomas Kulcak North Texas 71 74 145
11 Brian Grossman S F A 71 75 146
Tom Balderston Notre Dame 78 68 146
Tobias Winberg Louisiana 72 74 146
Ryan Cromwell UTSA 72 74 146
15 Joe Deraney Miss. St. 77 71 148
*Kitt Thanbungkan UTSA 72 76 148
17 Landon Allen UTA 75 74 149
Dustin Byrd S F A 76 73 149
Jake Lambert Miss. St. 74 75 149
Everett Nini Texas State 74 75 149
Brad Tilley Virginia 72 77 149

T6 Louisiana 303 295 598

T11 Tobias Winberg 72 74 146

T22 Marc Noel 76 74 150

T29 Steven Pena 79 72 151

T46 Spence Girouard 76 78

T66 Matt Smith 85 75 160

<center><b><i>LOUISIANA SI