Takefugi home sweet home for Louden

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006 | 12:33 p.m.

Although the demands of playing in your hometown tournament can be overwhelming, Stephanie Louden said she is looking forward to the LPGA Tour's Takefuji Classic April 13-15 at the Las Vegas Country Club.

"It's funny because when I first came out, I thought it would be a lot more difficult to play at home just because there's a little bit more pressure, there's family and you're kind of being pulled in a million different directions," Louden, a Las Vegas native, said. "But I've actually played really well here at home."

Louden, who is beginning her fifth full season on the LPGA Tour, finished tied for 23rd in last year's event and tied for 20th in 2004.

"I don't know what exactly it is - if it's sleeping in my own bed, having my husband around, being in my house or having family and friends out there cheering for you," Louden said.

Louden's goal this year is to contend for her first LPGA Tour title. In 97 career starts, Louden has posted only one top-10 finish - an eighth-place tie in 2003.

"I obviously want to have some higher finishes," Louden said. "I want to be in the hunt a lot. I want - on Sunday, on the back nine - to have a chance. I haven't given myself that opportunity yet, so that's one of my big goals."

Louden, whose scoring average climbed from 72.80 in 2004 to 73.94 last season, said she worked diligently on her short game during the winter in an attempt to realize that goal.

"I definitely am not happy with how I played the last two years, but I'm making the changes I think that I need to make," she said. "When you see what you have to do week in and week out to be in contention, the wedge game - inside 100 yards - is really where I'm doing a lot of work."

Rebels ranked seventh

The UNLV men's golf team, which opens its spring season Wednesday in Hawaii, is ranked seventh in the nation in the latest Golf Coaches Association of America poll.

Georgia once again tops the poll after maintaining the No. 1 spot for the entire fall season. Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State and UCLA round out the top four while BYU and Florida are tied for fifth.

UNLV will host the top four teams in the rankings plus Florida in the Southern Highlands Collegiate Championship March 1-12 at Southern Highlands Golf Club.

Also noted:

Craig Barlow, a Henderson native and Basic High School graduate, matched his career-best finish on the PGA Tour on Sunday when he took third at the Nissan Open at the Riviera Country Club in Southern California. It was his third career third-place finish.

Former UNLV standout Ryan Moore heads a list of the "Next Generation of Sports Headliners" as compiled by the Alan Taylor Communications public relations firm. Joining Moore on the list are Nicole Vaidisova, tennis; Felix Hernandez, Major League Baseball; Shani Davis, Olympic speed skating; and Phil Kessel, collegiate hockey.

Brian Hilderbrand can be reached at 259-4089 or at bh@lasvegassun.com.