plThe University of Minnesota men's golf team is in first place after two rounds of the Adams Cup in Newport, R.I. The Golden Gophers fired rounds of 293-285=578 to hold a seven shot lead over second place Michigan State. The tournament is being played at the par 72, 7,120-yard Newport National Golf Club.

Senior preseason second team All-American Justin Smith (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Township) leads all individuals at 4-under-par 140 after carding rounds of 71 and 69. Redshirt freshman John Hempstock (Colvend, Scotland/Dumfries Academy), playing in his first collegiate tournament, is tied for second after shooting a second-round 68 and is four shots back of Smith. Freshman Bronson LaCassie (Camira, Queensland/Kelvin Grove) is tied for eighth after recording a 72-74=146 (+2). Sophomore Ryan Paulson (Minneapolis, Minn./Holy Angels) playing in his first tournament of the year, shot two rounds of 74 and is tied for 15th at 148 (+4). Senior David Morgan (Rochester, Minnesota/Robert L. Stevenson) had rounds of 76-79=155 and is tied for 42nd.

The final round is tomorrow. Results will be posted on www.gophersports.com.

Adams Cup of Newport Newport National Golf Club (Newport, R.I.) Sept. 29-30, 2003 Team Standings (after day one)
Place Name Scores
1 Minnesota 293-285--578
2 Michigan State 296-289--585
3 Maryland 296-295--591
4 Furman 290-302--592
5 Pepperdine 291-303--594
6 UAB 294-303--597
T7 South Florida 297-304--601
T7 Mississippi 300-301--601
9 Xavier 292-313--605
10 Rhode Island 304-302--606
11 Yale 317-303--620
12 Marshall 307-321--628

Minnesota Results (after day one)
1 Justin Smith, Minnesota 71-69-140
T2 John Hempstock, Minnesota 76-68-144
T8 Bronson La Cassie, Minnesota 72-74-146
T15 Ryan Paulson, Minnesota 74-74=148
T42 David Morgan, Minnesota 76-79=155