14B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2008
WOMEN'S GOLF
Junior says U.S. Women's Open experience beneficial
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
Emily Powers doesn't want to remember the golf she played in the U.S. Women's Open in Edina, Minn., in late June, but she'll never forget what she went through to get there.
The Kansas junior, who missed the cut at the tournament after finishing 19 over par, was one of the final golfers to qualify for the event in May.
On May 18, Powers received an invitation to a sectional qualifying tournament that began at 7 a.m. the next day in West Bloomfield, Mich. — nine hours away from her hometown. Quincy, Ill.
Emily Powers, Quincy, Ill., junior, lines up her shot at the Marilynn Smith-Sunflower Invitational ini 2007. Powers played in the U.S. Women's Open in Edina. Minn. in June
The Powers family got to the qualifying course as fast as they could, but they arrived only minutes before the tournament began
— leaving no time for Powers to play a practice round. She didn't need it.
the first hole and clinched a spot in the U.S. Women's Open.
Powers played 36 holes and posted scores of 76 and 78, adding her name to a nine-player playoff the next morning. Powers parred
Courtesy of Kansas Athletics/JEFF JACOBSEN
So that's the story she keeps telling — not how she finished 153 out of 156 in the actual Open, alongside world-renowned golfers such as Annika Sorenstam and Se Rak.
She also got to experience the Open, which was played at Interlachen Country Club, with two of her closest confidants by her side.
Emily's father, Tim Powers, served as her caddie, and Kansas coach Erin O'Neil traveled from Lawrence to watch her play.
"It was neat to see her in that atmosphere and just to see how she carried herself," O'Neil said. "It seemed like she fit right in."
The problem the course presented to many golfers was its excessive length. At 6,789 yards, Interlachen Country Club is the longest course to ever play host to a U.S. Women's Open.
Both Emily Powers and O'Neil agreed, however, that it didn't affect her game. They blamed her
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Inbee Park, a 19-year-old, won the tournament with a 9-under par, becoming the youngest player to ever win the Open. Powers didn't stick around to watch the finish. She was ready to return home and work on her game.
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She played in two more tournaments this summer before returning to Lawrence to prepare for the Jayhawks' upcoming season* Last season, Powers was the most
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O'Neil thinks Powers' U.S. Women's Open experience will help with that ambition.
consistent performer for Kansas with a team-best 75 stroke average. Powers said her goal for next season was to lead the Jayhawks to the national tournament.
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"It will be a good motivator for the rest of the team," O'Neil said. "They can see that they can do it too if they put their mind to it."
Powers would like to play in the LPGA full-time someday. Seeing the inner workings of a major tournament and how professionals handle themselves could be beneficial to reaching that goal.
"You get there and you say, 'Whoa, this is a major.' Tim Powers said. "This is one of the biggest tournaments for men or
woes on poor course management. Powers hit only eight of 18 greens in her first round and took 36 putts in her second round.
Edited by Ramsey Cox
OLYMPICS
Nadal wins gold for Spain; Williams sisters take doubles
BY STEVEN WINE ASSOCIATED PRESS
In tennis, he is.
BEIJNG — As Rafael Nadal stood in front of the medal podium, his nation's flag draped across his back like a cape, he looked a little like a Spanish Superman.
Already assured of the No. 1 ranking, Nadal was No. 1 at the Olympics. He won a gold medal Sunday, overcoming two set points in the second set and holding every service game to beat Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3.
for Spain in Olympic tennis, and another milestone in an astounding summer surge by Nadal, who will officially end Roger Federer's $4\frac{1}{2}$-year reign atop the rankings Monday. Nadal has won 38 of his past 39 matches, including victories over Federer in the finals at the French Open and Wimbledon.
The gold medal was the first ever
"Nowhere in my best dreams I can imagine something like what I did this year," Nadal said. "I know how difficult it is to win these things, and especially here, because you only have one chance every four years."
Elena Dementiava earned the gold in women's singles, taking advantage of 17 double-faults by fellow Russian Dinara Safina to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
In women's doubles, Venus and Serena Williams of the United States won the gold, beating Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain 6-2, 6-0. The sisters celebrated with shrieks, then shared a hug.
The Williams sisters failed to medal in singles but found considerable consolation in doubles, improving their lifetime Olympic record as a team to 10-0. They won the doubles gold at Sydney but didn't play in Athens four years ago because Serena was hurt.
"It does mean more for me to win it with Serena, to share this kind of moment with your sister," Venus said. "I mean, we are practically joined at the hip."
Yan Zi and Zheng Jie of China beat Ukraine's Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko for the bronze, 6-2, 6-2.
Russia swept the medals in women's singles when Vera Zvonareva beat Li Na of China 6-0, 7-5 to win the bronze. That victory made Russia the first nation to win all three medals in one tennis event since Great Britain did so in the 1908 women's singles.
Tennis was not a medal sport between 1924 and 1988.
Men's singles has traditionally been an upset-filled event at the Olympics, and Nadal is the first
player ranked in the top five to win the gold. He stayed in the athletes' village and said the experience rejuvenated him.
"I arrived very tired," he said.
"The reason probably I won this title is because I have a fantastic time here enjoying a lot in the village. That was amazing experience for me. Always was a pleasure to know new people, no?"
He took charge against Gonzalez from the start, breaking serve in the second game. Nadal didn't face any break points until the 12th game of the second set, when he was down 5-6, 15-40.
Gonzalez failed to convert the set points, pushing a volley wide and putting a forehand in the net. The Chilean made five unforced errors in the tiebreaker to give Nadal a commanding lead.
Nadal ripped a backhand passing shot to break at love for a 3-1 lead in the final set, and erased two more break points to hold for 5-2.
He needed four match points to close out the victory, ripping one last Olympian forehand that Gonzalez could barely reach. Nadal collapsed to his back in jubilation.
"I think I played almost perfect match," he said.
Gonzalez settled for a silver medal after winning a gold in doubles and a bronze in singles four years ago in Athens.
"I have chances in the second set, and I didn't take it," Gonzalez said. "After that, Rafa was dominating. He was make me run a lot. He's a great champion, because he has been winning every important tournament in the past months."
Another test is around the corner, and now expectations will be high.
Even though Federer has won four consecutive U.S. Open titles, Nadal will be seeded No. 1 when the tournament begins Aug. 25.
The No. 5-seeded Dementieva closed out her victory with a forehand winner, then fell to her knees before walking to net for a congratulatory hug from Safina. Safina's 15-match winning streak.