Ultimate goal: National title

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, May 30, 2000 | 9:58 a.m.

The physical reminders say it all. So at times, UNLV golf coach Dwaine Knight doesn't have to utter a word.

There's the 1998 NCAA championship ring that dominates Knight's right hand (Rebel senior Jeremy Anderson swears Knight wears it even when he sleeps).

Then there's the accompanying championship trophy the players see every day in the office.

"That's our goal every year," Knight said. "To compete for the national championship.

"The other tournaments along the way are nice, but we want to win a national championship. This team is very capable of doing it this year."

The Rebels are set to tee off Wednesday afternoon at the Grand National Golf Club in Opelika, Ala., marking the team's 12th consecutive appearance in the NCAA golf finals. UNLV will be competing in a 30-team field that includes powers Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Texas.

To qualify for the finals, UNLV shot a final round low 9-under-par to tie Brigham Young for second at 21-under-par 843 at the NCAA West Regional championships.

But for the Rebels, just getting to Opelika won't be enough.

"That's something I want," Rebel freshman Calvin Kupeyan says of an NCAA championship ring.

Anderson and junior Scott Lander are the two remaining members of the 1998 team. They are expected to help senior transfer Michael Kirk and freshmen Kupeyan and Robert Sul handle the pressures of playing for an NCAA title.

At the PING/Golfweek Preview Invitational, the first tournament of the season last fall, Anderson, Lander and Kirk got the chance to play the Grand National, a Robert Trent Jones golf course. Anderson had the most success, carding 76, 76 and 69, followed by Kirk with a three-day total of 225, and Lander, who finished at 231.

Overcoming the water hazards on the par-72 7,003-yard course and the oppressive humidity will be two challenges for the Rebels.

"There are four-tiered greens which make it tough," Kirk said. "You've got to hit it on the right tier or the ball will roll down to the next one.

"There are fairway bunkers and some of them are in the middle of the course so you've got to decide which side you're going to hit it to. It's a risk-reward type course. You have to decide when you're going to go for it and when you're going to lay up."

Although the Rebels have struggled for most of the year, the team has never backed down.

After the first semester, the team's No. 1 golfer, Adam Scott, quit school to play professionally, leaving the Rebels with an identity crisis.

Week after week Knight tried to come up with the right lineup of golfers. But until the Mountain West Conference championships, where the Rebels destroyed the field with a 19-under 845 for their first victory of the year, inconsistent play at the four and five spots had plagued the team.

It appears that won't be a problem heading into the NCAA finals.

Sul and Kupeyan have come on strong to become bigger contributors, which has given the three seniors a break.

Sul competed in his first tournament at the MWC championships and Knight said he has made great improvement. Kupeyan posted two rounds of 68 at the West Regionals to help the Rebels to their second-place finish and to finish in a tie for second for individual honors.

"I think I was nervous coming to school," Kupeyan said of his slow adjustment. "Getting used to a new program and team.

"There's always a fear of success and failure. The most important thing our team was lacking was the fourth and fifth guy stepping up. I was really happy to be able to help at the fourth spot."

He'll be happier still if he helps the team to its second NCAA championship, during which UNLV plans to dress the part.

During the final round of each tournament, each UNLV player wears a solid bright, red polo-style shirt and black pants -- similar to Tiger Woods.

"Coach Knight's power colors," Anderson explained of the tradition that started after the team won the crown in 1998.

Saturday will be the last time Anderson will put on the red shirt (if the Rebels make the cut) and black pants as a Rebel.

"There's certainly a lot of Rebel pride that I have," Anderson said. "We always say that the final round belongs to the Rebels.

"When we're out there, it's like we're not only playing for ourselves, we're playing for the Rebels that came before us.

"It's going to be an emotional week for me. I owe everything to Coach Knight. When I walk down the fairway for the final time as a Rebel, play my final round as a Rebel, there are going to be some tears shed."