Crown may be Rebels’ to grab

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, May 31, 2000 | 10:40 a.m.

OPELIKA, Ala. -- The question wasn't meant to be tougher than calculus, but nonetheless it stumped many players and coaches.

Who is going to win the NCAA men's golf championship that started today and concludes Saturday at the Grand National Golf Club?

The question was answered with raised eyebrows and confused looks.

"The caliber of players competing today is better than ever," UNLV's Scott Lander reasoned. "It's a different work level, and players have a different work ethic with Tiger Woods and other pros setting higher standards for everyone to follow."

Since UNLV coach Dwaine Knight took over in 1988, the Rebels have had some high standards of their own.

UNLV teed off this afternoon in the first round of the 30-team, 72-hole event that will be cut to 15 teams after Thursday's round.

Lander was a member of the 1998 team that won the school's only NCAA golf championship.

"As a team, I think we have to shoot a couple under, not much more, to win," he said. "It's a little better for us to start out in the afternoon because it will be easier to make up any ground if we have to the next morning, and there is little down time.

"The course is a lot better than it was in the fall, 100 percent better. The greens were improved greatly, and we should have no problems (as long as) the wind doesn't pick up."

The seventh-ranked Rebels are one of many teams Clemson coach Larry Penley likes, including his second-ranked Tigers.

"I wouldn't bet against us," offered Penley. "Then again, there are eight or 10 other teams that can say the same thing.

"I think this is the deepest field in a long time."

Clemson's Jonathan Byrd, Lucas Glover, John Engler and D.J. Trahan were named to the Atlantic Coast Conference's first team, the most players from any ACC school. Byrd, Engler and Glover were also selected to the United States Palmer Cup team made up of collegians that will compete against players from Great Britain and Ireland Aug. 15-16.

Although Penley is confident that his players are peaking at the right time, he thinks the championship will come down to the final day.

"It will be real, real close," he said. "It'll definitely come down to the back side on Saturday, especially with Nos. 15 and 16. Those are two holes that can change the complexity of the round."

Even a favored team such as No. 1 Georgia Tech can't take itself too seriously anymore.

"Who knows who is favored anymore?" said Yellow Jackets player Bryce Molder, the ACC player of the year, who had a 70.75 scoring average entering today's first round. "If we are, then that just means we've been playing well lately. We have a good shot, just like every other school."

Defending champion and fourth-ranked Georgia is hoping the laid-back approach it took last year will produce the same results. The Bulldogs edged Oklahoma State by three strokes for the title.

"We definitely want to repeat, but we're treating this as just another tournament," Georgia's lone senior, Mike Morrison, said. "On the last day last year, we had the lead after the front nine and we just wanted to hold onto that lead and see what happened.

"This year, this golf course tells you the way to play. We're going to play a little more cautious the first couple of rounds, then take more chances later."

Donald competed in the PGA Memorial Tournament as an amateur over the weekend before arriving in Alabama Monday night. He carded a 74, 71, 73 and 72, beating Jack Nicklaus, among others, by three strokes. Previously, he played in the British Open and the Buick Challenge.

The last one came in 1995 when OSU beat Tiger Woods-led Stanford in a playoff.

"You never know what's going to happen," Holder said. "Every year I go in thinking we can win it.

"I've been wrong more than I've been right."

The third-ranked Cowboys are led by junior Charles Howell, whose 69.97 stroke average through Tuesday is on pace to set OSU season and career records.

Molder, who has a 3.43 GPA, laughed at Haack's wisecrack. "We don't like them very much," Molder fired back. To be sure, neither team will be rooting for the other. "If we don't win this week," Haack said before giving a mischievous grin, "it's OK as long as we beat Tech."