Feb. 10, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The UAB men's golf team sits in sixth place after the opening 36 holes of the SunTrust Gator Invitational played on Saturday. The Blazers recorded a score of 576 (287-289), and will enter Sunday's final 18 holes just eight strokes back of first-place Wake Forest (568).

Junior Kyle Sapp is leading the Blazers with a two-over par 142 (72-70), on the par-70 University of Florida Golf Course. Senior Garrett Osborn is just behind Sapp, carding a four-over 144 (68-76). Osborn opened the day with a two-under 68 and entered the second 18 holes in second overall, before faltering down the stretch. Osborn is tied with junior Brad Smith for 25th overall (75-69), after Smith carded the Blazers' low score of the second round, at one-under 69.

Rounding out the Blazers were freshman Blake West at six-over 146 (72-74) and sophomore Zach Sucher with a 152 (76-76).

"Kyle played real well today," UAB head coach Alan Kaufman said. "Garrett also played well and had a terrific opening 18 holes, but struggled a little on the final round. Overall, I am pleased to be where we are, and if we can just put another solid round together, it would be a great opening tournament for us. We are only eight strokes back of the leaders, so there is a lot that can happen."

Tournament host Florida sits one stroke back of the Demon Deacons entering Sunday's last round, carding a 569. Georgia Southern (570) is third, while Florida State (571) and Coastal Carolina (574) sit just ahead of the Blazers in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Final-round competition will begin at 8 a.m. on Sunday, with tee times scheduled at nine-minute intervals. Live scoring can be found at www.golfstat.com.