Columnist Adam Candee: Spring not yet sprung for UNLV women

Adam Candee

Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005 | 9:37 a.m.

Adam Candee covers golf for the Sun. Reach him at (702) 259-4085 or by e-mail at candee@lasvegassun.com.

Facing the nation's top teams at the Northrop Grunman Regional Challenge presented a chance for the UNLV women's golf team to establish elite status.

Two days into the tournament, all that is established is that the Rebels have loads of work to do before they are discussed in such a group.

Missy Ringler's crew stands at 58-over par after two days, planted in 14th place out of 15 teams following a pair of poor showings on the difficult Palos Verdes Golf Club track in southern California.

That's not quite the start to the spring season that Ringler envisioned after her squad won its last tournament of the fall. In fact, only a solid performance in today's final round could salvage this one from qualifying as a letdown.

"I thought we'd perform much better than we did (Monday)," Ringler said. "It was pretty disappointing."

Junior Elena Kurokawa fired the only solid two-round total for the Rebels, going 7-over on the par-71, 5,912-yard course. Even Kurokawa, though, joined the rest of the team in recording at least one double-bogey or worse in the second round.

Even though this is the team's first tournament after the long winter break, Ringler does not feel that rust should be an issue for a team that has a warm weather locale in which to practice while away from team competition.

"It shouldn't be that because they have a chance to work over the winter," Ringler said. "I think a lot of it's in their heads."

That's not an encouraging statement, especially for a team without any real senior leadership. This team is suffering from its lack of an ace that can take pressure off the squad by consistently firing good rounds.

Odds on

Here's assuming that if you had any loose betting cash last week, it probably went to some Super Bowl prop like "Third Left-Handed Player Called For Offensive Pass Interference After A Pepsi Ad," or some such casino-building nonsense.

At 6-1, Phil Mickelson won the FBR Open in Scottsdale, which is basically his back yard. In hindsight, this play would have made a lot of sense, what with notoriously comfort-oriented Lefty playing at home with his wife and kids around.

Here's a quick look at this week's stop at Pebble Beach, in a couple of quick points. As always, keep in mind that I am a jack of many trades, and a master of none.

Back in black

So I know it's a cheap gimmick. And I know the ball doesn't fly any farther or bite any harder. And I also know that my money could be spent in so many other ways to benefit both humanity and/or myself.

But that all-black golf ball that a few Nike-backed players busted out at the raucous 16th hole of last week's FBR Open in Scottsdale is just plain cool, and I want a sleeve. Don't you, too? (Fall in line with my worst capitalistic instincts, won't you please?)

Not only does it look great, but any piece of sporting equipment that can actually serve as symbolism for my endeavor (you know, like I'm already mourning the flight, plight, etc., of my ball by dressing it in black) is neat.

For now, Nike is tentatively planning to give out a couple of the all-black beauties as a bonus for buying a dozen of another new design. Soon, you too can be "blackballed" in Las Vegas, but without ever crossing the Nevada Gaming Commission.