Knight doles out credit to Davis on men’s team

Adam Candee

Tuesday, May 25, 2004 | 9:29 a.m.

First, the good news: Dwaine Knight feels Ryan Moore has become the best golfer in UNLV's history.

"Probably at this point in his career, he's the best player we've ever had," the Rebels coach said, ranking Moore ahead of Chad Campbell, Chris Riley and a host of others.

Yet in a season when Moore emerged as the second-ranked college golfer in the nation, the one player UNLV could not do without is Brien Davis.

You read it right: Brien Davis.

The 5-foot-9 grinder they knew as "B.D." never rewrote the record books before finishing his career with the Rebels last season, but he fought his way through every round and competed fiercely in qualifying and in tournaments.

"He drove everybody else to a little better height as far as being competitive," Knight said. "He was on teams where if you didn't play well (at home), you didn't go (to tournaments.)"

That would bring up the bad news: This season, the Rebels did not play well at home. And they will not go to the tournament where they have come to be expected guests.

UNLV missed the cut for nationals for just the third time in 17 years last weekend at the NCAA West Regional in Sunriver, Ore., finishing in 11th place to close a mediocre season. Only Moore, who placed third at regionals to earn an individual berth and continue his stellar spring season, will advance to next week's NCAA championship in Hot Springs, Va.

Moore begins play at nationals next Tuesday, when he will be paired with Bill Haas of Wake Forest, the nation's top-ranked player. Both Moore and Haas qualified as individuals.

Knight foresaw the Rebels' struggles during their practice rounds throughout the year. Qualifying scores to get into the traveling five for tournaments were high, but more importantly, Knight never felt this team played with much urgency to improve those scores.

"We have to have a team that has a lot more passion and fire," Knight said.

The Rebels had no seniors this year, perhaps contributing to that surprising lack of urgency. Inexperience is no excuse, as UNLV returned four of the five players who went to last year's nationals in Stillwater, Okla. And the Rebels consistently draw talented recruits capable of better performances.

"They have to be able to create their own ability to be ranked, to be recognized," Knight said. "Nobody is going to give them that."

After a strong sophomore season, Knight hoped that junior Travis Whisman would become the Rebels' No. 2 player behind Moore. Whisman played well at times, securing two finishes in the top 10, but was largely erratic.

The regionals captured that inconsistency, as Whisman shot 18-over through two rounds before coming back with a 1-under 71 to lead UNLV on the final day.

"He's not played at the level we expected him to and I know he's disappointed," Knight said.

Knight also hoped for better efforts from sophomore Ryan Keeney and junior J.C. Deacon. They both played at nationals a year ago, but Keeney went hot and cold all year and Deacon fell out of the top five by midseason.