The Arizona men's golf team moved up to the top of the leaderboard after one of the most solid team performances of the year yesterday at the National Invitational Tournament hosted by the Wildcats.

The team's 10-under par 278 was the best of the tournament thus far by shots, and gave the team an eight-shot cushion heading into the final day.

"It was a good day and a good round," head coach Rick LaRose said. "We needed one because we stumbled a little bit yesterday."

After a six-over par performance on Sunday, the team found itself in third place with 36 holes to go, but impressive scores by Ricky Barnes, Andrew Medley and Chris Nallen turned a so-so first day into what looks to be the team's fourth win in its last five tournaments.

Reigning U.S. Amateur champion Barnes carded four birdies and an eagle on his way to a 67, and a tie for first place individually. The play came after one of Barnes' best finishes at the Oregon Duck Invitational.

Medley posted a 67 that included five birdies and an eagle. The senior from Jackson, Miss. tied Barnes and two other players for the best round of the day and it couldn't have come at a better time.

Nallen shot a two-under par round of 70, but coach LaRose thinks that his round could have improved dramatically if a few putts would have fallen.

"He just can't get the ball in the hole with his putter so he's due for a good putting round," LaRose said. "He probably hit the ball the best out of anybody today, but just couldn't get any putts to fall."

With a strong field in Tucson this week, Arizona finds itself in a very familiar position.

The Wildcats are ranked sixth in the nation, but senior Reid Hatley, who posted a two-over par 74 yesterday, thinks the program is one of the best in the nation.

"I think with the spring we have had, we have to be considered one of, if not the best, team in the nation," he said.

Even with an impressive performance on a PGA tour-style golf course, LaRose thinks the team needs to be more unified if it wants to continue walking off the golf course with more and more trophies.

"We need to get five guys out there posting five good scores," LaRose said. "Tomorrow, the key is to get off to a good start."