Barnes and the men's golf team moved into second place yesterday at the 2003 Pacific-10 Conference Men's Golf Championships after posting their lowest total of the tournament.

Arizona, which entered the day in fourth place, posted a 364 (+4) total and stands in second place after three rounds with a 1,104 (+24) total. It was the second-lowest team total of the day. The Wildcats trail tournament-leader UCLA by 23 strokes heading into today's final round. UCLA's third-round 355 (-5) tally is the only below-par round of the tournament to date. Stanford (1,109), Washington (1,114) and Arizona State (1,119) round out the top-five places.

Individually, three Wildcats rank in the top 20 places heading into the final 18 holes. Barnes, competing in his first collegiate event since April 1, carded a three-over 75 and is tied for ninth place with a 219 (+3) total. He is one stroke ahead of teammate Chris Nallen, who resides in 14th place at 220 (+4). Senior Andrew Medley posted Arizona's only sub-par round of the day, a three-under 69, and moved into a tie for 17th place at 222 (+6). Medley's 69 equaled two other golfers' totals as the low round of the day.

UCLA's John Merrick and defending individual medalist Jim Seki of Stanford share the individual lead at 213 (-3). The duo leads the 60-man field by one stroke.

UA senior Reid Hatley tallied an even-par 72 yesterday and is tied for 21st place with a 224 (+8) total. Fellow UA senior Brian Woolf is tied for 26th place at 226 (+10), while sophomore Kipp Riehle is tied for 43rd place at 232 (+16).

The Pac-10 Men's Golf Championships are being contested in the greater Los Angeles area at Oakmont Country Club, a par-72, 6,736-yard facility. The 72-hole event employs a unique scoring system where six golfers from each school, rather than the usual five, compete each round with the top five scores counting towards the team total.

The tournament concludes today with tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m. PDT at Oakmont Country Club.

Ricky Barnes named April's best amateur

University of Arizona men's golfer Ricky Barnes received another addition to his trophy case yesterday as he was named the National Amateur of the Month for April by the Southern Golf Association.

Barnes, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, finished as the low amateur at the 2003 Masters with a four-round total of 291 (+3). It was the lowest total by an amateur at the prestigious event since 1998 and the lowest amateur placing in 15 years.

The senior from Stockton, Calif., has a 71.56 stroke average in 10 collegiate events this season, and 18 of his 27 rounds played have been at par or better with a low round of 66. He has six top-10 finishes and a top-20 effort to his credit. Barnes also helped Arizona win the National Invitational Tournament April 1 with a key birdie on the tournament's final hole. His two-under 214 total tied him for second place individually.

In its inaugural season, the Southern Golf Association's National Amateur of the Month is open to amateurs of all ages and determined by a selection panel of national golf officials, golf journalists and college coaches. The award is given March through October. The SGA stages the 100-year-old Southern Amateur.

15-year old commits to men's basketball

A 15-year old high school freshman has committed to play basketball for Arizona, the Arizona Daily Star reported yesterday.

Nic Wise, a 5-foot-9 guard, is expected to suit up for the Wildcats upon the conclusion of his high school days, though he is not bound to the university until the formal letter of intent is signed and sent to his college of choice.

Wise is rated in the top five of the class of 2006 by HoopScoop.