UNLV men learn lesson from sidelines

Tuesday, June 6, 2006 | 7:15 a.m.

Even though UNLV failed to make the cut at the NCAA Men's Golf Championships in Sunriver, Ore., the Rebels didn't miss one shot of the exciting final round.

Head coach Dwaine Knight made sure of it.

While the teams that finished outside of the top 15 and didn't advance to Saturday's final round were scrambling to find early flights home, Knight decided to use the final round as a learning experience for his players, having them watch the tournament's finish.

"I think that was an important lesson," Knight said of his players watching Oklahoma State rally for a three-shot victory over Florida for the team championship. "It was humbling to be out there (watching), believe me ... because we're used to playing that last round.

"Watching (the Cowboys) jump out to a big lead, struggle and still keep their patience ... they really struggled and were in some tough, tough positions (but) their patience never changed. That lesson right there was more (valuable) than all the arm twisting I did all year."

UNLV, which shot 16 over par through the first three rounds, missed the cut by six shots. It was only the third time in 16 trips to the NCAA championship tournament - and the first time since 1997 - that the Rebels had missed a cut.

As disappointed as Knight was with the way the season ended, the future looks bright.

The lineup Knight used most frequently this season featured two sophomores (Jarred Texter and C.J. Gatto) and a pair of freshmen (Seung-Su Han and Blake Trimble) along with senior Andres Gonzales. Another sophomore, Matt Kinsinger, played regularly this season and played his way onto the Rebels' five-man team for the NCAA Championships.

UNLV, which won two tournaments this season, held its top-10 ranking by Golfweek magazine in its most recent poll despite missing the cut at the NCAA Championships. Two players, Texter and Gatto, are ranked among the top 100 players in the nation.

"Even with all of our ups and downs and struggles this year, with a team that had just one senior ... not bad, really," Knight said is assessing the season.

"They got us back to the (NCAA) Championship - there were a lot of bumps in the road to get there, but at least we were there ... and that will serve us well in the future."

Captain Tammy Gephardt announced the members of the Women's Southern Nevada Golf Association's Silver Cup team, which will take part in a Ryder Cup-style competition against a team from Northern Nevada in October at Anthem Country Club.

Joining Gephardt on the Southern Nevada team are Nancy Abraham, Sarah Bowman, Masako Brown, Larren Buckley, Rita Byorick, Julia Choi, Sherry Corsello, Sue Defrancesco, Jima Doh, Doe Emes, Kari Higa, Jeanne Hudgins, Dianne Jett, Sherry Jackson, Laurie Johnson, Brenda Knott, Val McNew, Deborah Rees and Laura Smith.

The representatives of the Southern Nevada team earned their way onto the squad through an open qualifier last month at Anthem Country Club.

UNLV's ranking in the most recent men's collegiate golf poll by Golfweek magazine

UNLV sophomore Jarred Texter's individual ranking in the latest Golfweek poll

UNLV sophomore C.J. Gatto's individual ranking in the latest Golfweek poll