COLUMBUS, Ohio - Texas Tech is in a 17th-place tie after posting a 4-over par 288 during the first round of the 2002 NCAA Men's Golf Championships at The Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio. The Red Raiders teed off Wednesday morning and finished their round before the weather suspended play in the afternoon.

Junior Brooks Kelly (Sierra Vista, Ariz.) picked up where he left off last weekend with an opening round 70 and is tied in 21st place. The 1-under par score is his third-straight round of 70, going back to the final two rounds of the NCAA West Regional last weekend in Albuquerque, N.M.

Seniors David Bolen (Austin, Texas) and Kyle Willmann (Edmond, Okla.) each shot one-over 72s and are tied in 66th place, while junior Mark Hull (San Antonio, Texas) and sophomore Brad Jacobson (Hayti, S.D.) each turned in 74s. They are in a 110th-place tie.

Texas Tech is tied in the 17th position with eighth-ranked Auburn and UNLV. Of the team's which completed the first round, Colorado holds the lead with a 280 team total.

Ben Portie, a senior from Colorado, is the leader in the clubhouse with a 5-under 66. Sophomore Brock Mackenzie of Washington was 5-under through 14 holes when play was suspended.

Wednesday afternoon's round will be completed at 7 a.m. Thursday prior to the start of the second round.