Columnist Victoria Sun: UNLV golf team bids farewell to one of its marquee players

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, March 7, 2001 | 9:35 a.m.

Victoria Sun's golf column appears Wednesday. Reach her at 259-4078 or victoria @lasvegassun.com

The lone senior on the UNLV men's golf team arrived on campus five years ago, a scrawny teenager, able to party with the best of them.

He'll graduate this May, a married man, prepared to handle the rigors of being a professional golfer -- or the fact that he may have to put his degree in communications to work one day.

"He's been very special for our team," UNLV golf coach Dwaine Knight said. "I'm just real proud of him. He's been one of the mainstays of our program.

"Nobody has worked harder than he has during his time here."

He is Scott Lander, the final player left from UNLV's 1998 national championship team.

When Lander arrived on campus in the fall of 1996, he experienced the normal adjustment period most freshmen go through.

Between study hall, golf practice and an active nightlife, the Kingman, Ariz., native estimates he averaged three hours of sleep per night living in the dorm.

"Ask the freshmen what it's like," Lander said, laughing. "They're having trouble sleeping too.

"I think that freshman year I did a lot of things I shouldn't have been doing, basically partying. My priorities and time managment weren't right. I basically wasted a whole year."

He has wised up a lot since then.

Lander received a medical redshirt his freshman year after he hurt his shoulder midway through the season.

In 1997, he became a Christian, which he says changed him for the better and led him to his wife, the former Jamie Fisk. The couple married on Dec. 16 of last year.

With his newfound faith, Lander was fully able to enjoy the accomplishments of the Rebel team that won a school record seven tournaments during Lander's first full year on the team, and eventually the NCAA title. He was the only freshman who competed for the championship.

"That year, it was unbelievable because I didn't know any better," Lander said of the team's run. "It was fun becasue we were winning everything.

"We expected to win. We had a lot of confidence."

As a second-year freshman, Lander said playing with Rebel greats such as Jeremy Anderson and Charley Hoffman only helped his own game.

"I had a lot to work at because I was always getting beat by the guys on my team, so I was always focusing on trying to beat them," he said. "It wasn't intimidating. It was actually totally fine because I was working toward beating those guys, which made it fun."

Knight has watched Lander grow physically (he has gained about 25 pounds since enrolling at UNLV) and as a person over the years. In his 14 years as UNLV's golf coach, Knight thinks Lander is the only married player he has had on any of his teams.

"He's eating awfully well," Knight said in jest. "I guess she's a good cook. He seems very happy."

Lander believes he will be the first in his family to get a degree since his grandfather, retired Arizona Supreme Court judge Frank Gordon.

This weekend Lander will compete in his final tournament in Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Intercollegiate at the Rio Secco, against some of the top teams in the country including top-ranked Georgia, No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Georgia Tech. Nine of the top 10 teams of the country will be participating.

The Rebels will tee off at 8 a.m. and be paired with Oklahoma State and Clemson. Freshman James Oh will be the No. 1 golfer followed by sophomore Calvin Kupeyan, freshman Travis Whisman, Lander and sophomore Brett Foulds.

Lander said he hasn't had time to reflect on his final tournament in Las Vegas.

But he will leave UNLV with many memories.

"Coach, the friendships and the trips were great," Lander said. "We get private jets and we eat really, really well on the road.

"It's not going to be like that when I get out. We'll probably make sandwiches, I don't know."