April 25, 2006
WEST POINT, Miss. -
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Sonny Nimkhum used a career-low 6-under-par 66 Tuesday to move into a tie for first at the Conference USA Men's Golf Championship at Old Waverly Golf Club, while helping UCF jump from seventh to fourth in the team standings. The Golden Knights will enter Wednesday's final round six shots behind Memphis and Houston and two shots behind third-place SMU.
UCF's 5-under 283 is the best round of the year for the Golden Knights and was second only to Houston's 8-under 280 Tuesday. UCF began the day 12 shots out of the lead and cut that deficit in half.
"It was a good round when we really needed it," UCF coach Nick Clinard said. "We played our way into contention today and I believe we have a good chance to catch those teams ahead of us. I expect the golf course to play a little harder tomorrow with the wind that is being forecast, but we are used to difficult conditions."
Nimkhum made six birdies and no bogeys en route to matching the low round of the tournament. He began the day in a tie for 20th at even par, but vaulted all the way into a tie for the lead at 6-under with SMU's Will Dodson, who shot a 4-under 68 Tuesday.
"I tried to not think about the score and just play golf," Nimkhum said. "There are so many birdies to be made out there and confidence is the key. I putted better than I did yesterday and when I didn't hit my target off the tee I missed in the right spot."
Steven Bain continued his solid play with a 1-over 73 Tuesday and is tied for 21st at 1-over for the tournament, while Kyle Davis and Greg Forest are tied for 29th at 3-over.
Giwon Suh rebounded from an opening-round 6-over 78 with a 1-under 71 and moved from a tie for 52nd into a tie for 36th.