PROVO, Utah – Freshman Matt McCarty fired a career-low 5-under 67 in the first round and an even-par 72 in the second, entering the clubhouse Monday tied for third at 139 after two rounds of the PING Cougar Classic. As a team the Broncos are in fifth place, eight shots off the lead at 3-under 573.

Final round action on the 7,142-yard, par 72 Riverside Country Club in Provo, Utah, gets underway Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. PDT.

McCarty bettered his previous low round by two shots and is tied with LMU's Blake Meek, one shot behind co-leaders Riley Elmes of LMU and Utah's Jordan Costello.

"It was nice to see Matt rebound after his last tournament," head coach Rob Miller said. "Matt and Hayden (Shieh) have been solid at the top of the order all season and we need them playing at a high level."

Shieh scored a first round 3-under 69, the 11th sub-par score in his past 13 rounds, and ended the day with an even-par second round to tie for 10th at 141.

"It was an interesting day," Miller added. "The guys are playing for a chance to come back next week and we saw some good scores."

Playing as an individual, sophomore Hassan Said carded a career-low 3-under 69 in the first round and followed with a 72 to tie Shieh for 10th place. Sophomore Charlie Watson also scored a 69, his coming in the second round after opening the day with a 6-over 78. Watson is tied for 32nd at 3-over 147.

"Charlie had a nice second round," Miller said. "He signed an incorrect score card that cost him a stroke in the first round. I guess that just upset him a bit."

The Broncos travelled eight players to compete in the Cougar Classic and get a feel for the course that will host the WCC Championship beginning April 20.

Playing in his first event since the fall, senior Evan McLeod scored rounds of 73 and 75 to end the day tied for 39th at 4-over 148. Sophomore Derek Ackerman rounded out the five-player team with a 7-over 151 to tie for 50th.

Sophomore Michiel Eyre III and freshman Devrath Das competed as individuals and finished the day within one shot of each other. Eyre III had rounds of 74 and 76 to tie for 46th at 6-over 150 while Das shaved three strokes off his first round score with a second round 74. He's tied for 50th at 7-over 151.

Santa Clara 2nd Round Individual Results

T3.     Matt McCarty             67-72 = 139 (-5)

T10.   Hayden Shieh             69-72 = 141 (-3)

T32.   Charlie Watson           78-69 = 147 (+3)

T39.   Evan McLeod             73-75 = 148 (+4)

T50.   Derek Ackerman         76-75 = 151 (+7)

Competing as an Individual

T10.   Hassan Said              69-72 = 141 (-3)

T46.   Michiel Eyre III            74-76 = 150 (+6)

T50.   Devrath Das               77-74 = 151 (+7)