Miami University leads in the team race by two shots and a trio of individuals have top honors at the 2003 FirstEnergy Collegiate April 18 at the 6,936-yard, par-70 Windmill Lakes Golf Course in Ravenna, Ohio. The RedHawks lead tournament host Kent State University by two shots and first-round leader Xavier University by three shots after a blustery, overcast day in Northeast Ohio.

The RedHawks received a superb round by senior Eric Phipps in the afternoon. Phipps posted a three-under 67, just two shots off the tournament record in which he shares. Phipps had birdies on three, five and nine while paring every hole on the back nine. Phipps, however, is three back of Brad Heaven of the University of Toledo, Patrick Wilkes-Keier of Ball State University and sophomore Peter Laws (Mississauga, Ontario/Our Lady of Mount Carmel) of Kent State. Laws and Wilkes-Keier had rounds of 69-70 while Heaven went 70-69. Laws had four birdies and three bogeys in round one and had two of each in the second round.

Miami fired rounds of 292-285=577, while Kent State had scores of 291-288=579. Rounding out the top-five were Xavier (290-290=580), Toledo (293-290=583) and Penn State University (300-289=589).

For Kent State, freshman Ryan Yip (Calgary, Alberta/Bishop Carroll) is tied for 19th place with rounds of 74-72=146. Sophomore Steve Lohmeyer (Dayton, Ohio/Oakwood) and junior Chris Miller (New Philadelphia, Ohio/New Philadelphia) are tied for 22nd place with matching scores of 74-73=147. Sophomore Joe Hurtuk (Bedford, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel) is tied for 47th with matching 76's.

The Golden Flashes have six players competing as individuals and junior Sean Howell (Erie, Pa./McDowell) is leading the way. Howell is tied for 22nd place with rounds of 73-74=147. Senior Scott Vallina (Langeloth, Pa./Burgettstown) is tied for 39th place with scores of 75-75=150. Freshman Joe Meglen (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) is in 62nd place with scores of 78-77=155. Classmate J.D. Schonhoft (Canton, Ohio/Central Catholic) is in 69th place with rounds of 78-79=157. Sophomores Matthew Boumphrey (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/West Geauga) and Jake DeHart (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin) are in 74th and 75th place, respectively. Boumphrey shot rounds of 80-79=159 while DeHart had scores of 83-77=160.

The final round of the FirstEnergy Collegiate begins Saturday, April 19, at 8 a.m.

 Team Standings 1. Miami 292-285=577 2. KENT STATE 291-288=579 3. Xavier 290-290=580 4. Toledo 293-290=583 5. Penn State 300-289=589 6. Eastern Kentucky 301-289=590 Wright State 297-293=590 8. Eastern Michigan 294-297=591 9. Ball State 293-302=595 10. Akron 302-294=596 11. Bowling Green 293-304=597 12. Northern Illinois 309-293=602 13. Ohio 304-299=603 14. Marshall 303-303=606 15. Manitoba 314-324=638 Top-10 Individuals t-1. Brad Heaven (Toledo) 70-69=139 t-1. Peter Laws (KSU) 69-70=139 t-1. P. Wilkes-Keier (BSU) 69-70=139 t-4. Eric Phipps (Miami) 75-67=142 t-4. Neal Grusczynski (PSU) 71-71=142 t-6. Brandon Brown (EKU) 73-70=143 t-6. Miles Maillet (Xavier) 71-72=143 t-6. Korey Mahoney (EMU) 70-73=143 t-6. Mark Weghorst (Miami) 69-74=143 t-10. Jim Fuller (PSU) 74-70=144 t-10. John Schones (WSU) 73-71=144 t-10. Brad Pemberton (EMU) 72-72=144 t-10. Ted Neville (PSU) 74-70=144