May 31, 2000

OPELIKA, Ala. - The University of North Carolina men's golf team fired an even par 288 and is tied for 10th place after the first round of the NCAA Championships. The Heels are 16 shots behind team leader Texas which carded a blistering 16-under-par 272 total. Top-ranked Georgia Tech is in second place at 280 while Oklahoma State is third at 281 and Houston is fourth at 284. Other ACC participants include Clemson which is in 16th place at 291, Wake Forest is in 18th place at 292 and Virginia is tied for 25th at 299.

Brad Hyler and Rob Simmons led the way for the Tar Heels. Hyler, a senior from Raleigh, N.C., fired a three-under 69 and is tied for eighth place while junior Simmons, from Walterboro, S.C., is one shot back at two-under 70 and is tied for 13th place.

David Gossett of Texas grabbed the individual lead firing a nine-under 63. Teammate J.J. Wall is two shots back in second place with a 65 while a trio of players are tied for third place at 67 - Georgia Tech's Matt Kuchar, East Tennessee State's Chris Wisler and Oklahoma State's Charles Howell.

Carolina's Paul Daniel, a senior from Burlington, N.C., carded a 74 and is tied for 75th place while Max Harris, a senior from Worthing, England, posted a 75 and is tied for 96th and Whitten Meares, a sophomore from Fair Bluff, N.C., shot 79 and is tied for 141st place.

The 72-hole event continues through Saturday and is being played at the Grand National Lake Course, which features a par 72, 7,003-yard layout. After Thursday's second round, the field will be cut to the top 15 teams and the top nine individuals not on one of those top 15 teams.

TEAM STANDINGS (18 HOLES)

1.  Texas                272
2.  Georgia Tech         280
3.  Oklahoma State       281
4.  Houston              284
5.  UNLV                 286
    New Mexico           286
    East Tennessee State 286
    Arizona              286
9.  Northwestern         287
10. North Carolina       288
    Mississippi State    288
    Kent                 288
13. Texas Christian      289
14. Auburn               290
    Minnesota            290
16. Clemson              291
    Kansas               291
18. Wake Forest          292
    Georgia              292
20. Fresno State         293
21. Oklahoma             294
    North Florida        294
23. Pepperdine           295
    Georgia State        295
25. Brigham Young        299
    Arizona State        299
    Virginia             299
    Southern California  299
29. California           300
30. Washington           301

TOP INDIVIDUALS (18 HOLES)

1. David Gossett (Texas)      63
2. J.J. Wall (Texas)          65
3. Matt Kuchar (Ga. Tech)     67
   Chris Wisler (ETSU)        67
   Charles Howell (Okla. St.) 67
6. Jess Hendry (New Mex.)     68
   James Driscoll (Virginia)  68
8. Brad Hyler (UNC)           69
   Bryce Molder (Ga. Tech)    69
   Ben Smith (Miss. St.)      69
   Jess Daley (NW)            69
   Jeremy Anderson (UNLV)     69

CAROLINA'S INDIVIDUALS

T8   Brad Hyler     69
T13  Rob Simmons    70
T75  Paul Daniel    74
T96  Max Harris     75
T141 Whitten Meares 79