April 19, 2004

FORT WORTH, Texas - The 10th-ranked TCU men's golf team began their conference title defense with a strong performance on Monday, taking an 11-stroke lead through one round of the Conference USA Men's Golf Championships at the Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club in Dade City, Fla. The Horned Frogs posted a two-under 286 on the day, and a pair of TCU golfers, Adam Meyer and Colby Beckstrom, sit in first and second place individually.

The Horned Frogs sizzled on the same course that saw the team win in the 2003 C-USA Championship. Meyer fired a round of 68 (-4) on Monday to take a one-stroke lead individually. After making the turn at even par, he carded a four-under-par 32 on the back nine. The senior from China Spring, Texas, finished as the C-USA runnerup last year.

Beckstrom, a sophomore from North Muskegon, Mich., notched a 69 (-3) to sit in second place among the 70 participants. Beckstrom and Meyer were the only players in the field to break par (72) in the opening round.

Junior David Schultz is in a five-way tie for fifth place after opening the tournament with a one-over 73. Fellow junior J.J. Killeen, who placed in the top 20 at the C-USA Championship last year, is currently tied for 22nd position with a 76 (+4). Rounding out the squad is senior Stephen Polanski, who recorded a five-over 77. Polanski is tied for 30th place.

In the 14-team event, the Horned Frogs currently enjoy an 11-stroke lead over second-place Houston (297) and a 12-stroke advantage over third-place Southern Miss (298). The tournament's winning team receives an automatic bid to the 2004 NCAA Regionals. The Horned Frogs have advanced to the regionals each of the past 14 seasons under head coach Bill Montigel, and have reached the NCAA Championships nine times over that span.

TCU enters the tournament having won three straight conference crowns, with the last two coming as a member of Conference USA. The men's golf team is attempting to become the first TCU athletics team to win four straight league titles since the men's tennis team accomplished the feat from 1994-1997.

No live scoring is available on the internet. Results will be posted on www.gofrogs.com following Tuesday's round.

-www.gofrogs.com-

Team Standings
1. TCU 286 (-2); 2. Houston 297 (+9); 3. Southern Miss 298 (+10); 4. UAB 300 (+12); 5. Charlotte 301 (+13); 6. Louisville 304 (+16); T-7. East Carolina 305 (+17); T-7. USF (+17); T-9. Tulane 308 (+20); T-9. Memphis 308 (+20); 11. Marquette 309 (+21); 12. Cincinnati 316 (+28); 13. Saint Louis 317 (+29); 14. DePaul 322 (+34).

TCU Individual Standings
1. Adam Meyer 68 (-4); 2. Colby Beckstrom 69 (-3); T-5. David Schultz 73 (+1); T-22. J.J. Killeen 76 (+4); T-30. Stephen Polanski 77 (+5).