UNLV rallies to claim title

Monday, March 15, 1999 | 11:29 a.m.

If the UNLV golf team continues its trend of coming from behind to win golf tournaments, Dwaine Knight isn't sure if he can last another 11 years as the Rebels head coach.

"We're getting a reputation a little bit like Arnold Palmer; we're becoming a comeback team," Knight said. "It's exciting for the fans and the families, but it's hard on the old golf coach."

Knight watched Sunday as his second-ranked Rebels posted their second straight final-round rally to win the Golf Digest Collegiate Invitational at the Desert Inn Golf Club by four shots over sixth-ranked Georgia. Top-ranked Clemson finished eight shots behind UNLV, in fourth place.

It was the Rebels' second win in a row and third in four tournaments. Three weeks ago in Hawaii, UNLV shot a final-round, 14-under-par 274 and overcame a six-shot deficit to win the John A. Burns Intercollegiate.

Sunday's 12-under-par 276 performance by the Rebels was even more impressive. UNLV trailed Georgia by six shots at the turn and made up 10 shots on the back nine.

"I'm really proud of the guys," Knight said. "I thought the first round was really key in the fact that at one time, we were 14 over (par) that day and we squeezed it back down to 10.

"I thought that had a lot to do with us being able to win the championship because we didn't give up, they fought and then we started making some birdies the last couple of days."

UNLV senior Charley Hoffman and junior Michael Kirk led the Rebels' final-round charge. Hoffman shot a 69 Sunday and finished tied for fifth place in the individual standings while Kirk carded a 67 and tied for eighth.

"We just seemed to pull it together and everybody made a lot of birdies on the back nine and that's pretty much what Rebel golf is all about," Kirk said.

"We just kept ourselves in the hunt, which is the main thing and the big thing is putting a good, solid last round together and we did that well today."

University of Texas freshman David Gossett won the individual title in a two-hole, sudden-death playoff with Georgia Tech sophomore Bryce Molder.

Both players finished regulation play at 8-under-par 208, and Gossett sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole to claim the title.

Hoffman was within one shot of joining Gossett and Molder in the playoff as he stood over his second shot on the 18th fairway. Hoffman pushed his shot into the water hazard, however, then two-putted for a double bogey.

"I blew it at the end but besides that, I played all right," a dejected Hoffman said.

Knight defended Hoffman for his aggressiveness on the final hole.

"He was trying, he was going for (a share of the lead) and he pushed it in the water," Knight said. "You can't fault him for trying to win the golf tournament.

"That's our golf. We're an aggressive team and that's part of it: When you go for it, you've got to be able to pay the price."

UNLV senior Chris Berry shot a final-round 70 and also tied for eighth place in the individual standings. Junior Jeremy Anderson also shot a 70 Sunday and tied for 18th place.

After getting off to a slow start by shooting 10-over-par as a team in the wind on Friday, the Rebels got back into the hunt with a 7-under 281 on Saturday and trailed Georgia by five shots going into Sunday's round.

"We just really feel if we're within 10 shots, even with three holes to go, we feel like we can get it done," Knight said. "It just takes a couple people to make a couple bogeys and us to make a couple birdies.

"We've done it so many times now, it's a nice mental approach to have when you're playing for the championship. We beat the best in the nation this week and that's always fun to do."

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