MARANA, Ariz. - Middle Tennessee found the going tough on the first day of the Calloway Collegiate Match Play Championship as it lost to UNLV and was trailing late against Arizona. The prestigious event is being played at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and Dove Mountain course.
The 11th seeded Blue Raiders opened play against sixth seed UNLV and the eighth ranked Rebels defeated No. 32 Middle Tennessee, 3.5 to 1.5. Sophomore Hunter Green had the Blue Raiders' only win by downing Brett Kanda, 2-1, while senior Kent Bulle halved his match with Derek Ernst.
Jason Millard lost on the final hole to Cody Smith, 1 up, as he bogeyed the par 5 13th. Brad Simons fell to Jeremiah Wooding, 4-3, and senior Craig Smith lost to Eddie Olson, 8-7.
In the second match of the day, the Blue Raiders faced No. 57 and 14th seeded Arizona. With less than six holes to play, the Blue Raiders trailed 3-2. Bulle was 1-up on Tarquin MacManus with two holes left while Simons was 1-up on Philip Bagdade with six holes to play.
Millard was two down to Jonathan Khan with two holes remaining and Hunter Green was two down to Rich Saferian with three more holes on their round. Smith was three down with three to play against Trent Redfern.
The Blue Raiders will continue second day action on Monday.
(6) UNLV def. (11) Middle Tennessee, 3.5-1.5
Derek Ernst, UNLV halved Kent Bulle, Middle Tennessee
Colby Smith, UNLV def. Jason Millard, Middle Tennessee, 1-up
Hunter Green, Middle Tennessee def. Brett Kanda, UNLV, 2 and 1
Eddie Olson, UNLV def. Craig Smith, Middle Tennessee, 8 and 7
Jeremiah Wooding, UNLV def. Brad Simons, Middle Tennessee, 4 and 3
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