June 2, 2000
OPELIKA, Ala.-Arizona State junior Jeff Quinney made par on the first playoff hole Friday morning and earned one of the three remaining individual playoff spots in the NCAA men's golf championships held at the Grand National Golf Club Lake Course (par-72/7,003 yards). He will begin his third round today at 10:54 a.m. CT (8:54 a.m. Arizona Time).
Quinney's drive was to the right of the cart path but his second shot landed on the green about 25 feet from the cup, and he two-putted and earned the spot. Quinney was in a five-man playoff for the final three spots. He competed with Robert Hamilton and Jesse Ruda of California, Matt Cohn of Oklahoma and Joel Hendry of New Mexico. Quinney and Hamilton both qualified after the first playoff hole, while Cohn earned his spot after the fourth hole.
Quinney, a second-team All-American last year, shot an even 144 (72-72) to lead the Sun Devils through the first two rounds and is tied for 28th. Nine individuals not on teams competing in the third and fourth rounds advance, as ASU missed the 15-team cut for first time since it was instituted in 1992.
The native or Eugene, Ore., had a 72.43 stroke average entering play in the NCAA Tournament. He has four top-10 finishes and one top five finish, as he tied for third at the USC Southwestern Classic on Feb. 28-29. He won two titles in his sophomore season (1998-99), the ASU Thunderbird/SAVANE Invitational and the NCAA West Regional. He is a two-time first-team All-Pac-10 selection.
Quinney finished tied for 11th at the 1998 Championships in Albuquerque, shooting a 9-under 279 (69-71-71-68). Last year in Chaska, Minn., he tied for 44th with a 15-over 303 (72-79-74-78).
Full results can be accessed on the Auburn website at http://www.auburn.edu/athletics/ncaagolf.
Individual Standings (Par 72-72=144) Through Two Rounds
T1. Charles Howell, Oklahoma State 67-66=133 (-11)
T1. David Gossett, Texas 63-70=133 (-11)
3. Chris Wisler, East Tennessee State 67-68=135 (-9)
4. J.J. Wall, Texas 65-71=136 (-8)
T5. Jeremy Anderson, UNLV 69-68=137 (-7)
T5. Matt Kuchar, Georgia Tech 67-70=137 (-7)
T7. Landry Mahan, Oklahoma State 70-68=138 (-6)
T7. Ricky Barnes, Arizona 70-68=138 (-6)
T9. James Driscoll, Virginia 68-71=139 (-5)
T9. Jess Daley, Northwestern 69-70=139 (-5)
T28. Jeff Quinney, Arizona State 72-72=144 (E)
**Quinney earned one of three remaining individual spots in a playoff.