Wednesday, August 27. 1997
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 3
Golf teams hope to ace Big 12
By Jason Franchuk sports@kansan.com Kansan sportwriter
Men's golf coach Ross Randall, who returns with an experienced team that includes its top player from a year ago, said he expected his team to return to the national-contention caliber of two seasons ago when the team qualified for the NCAA finals.
"Last year this team was really young," said Randall, who is entering his 18th year as head coach. "We are a year older now, and I am really looking forward to working with this squad."
The Jayhawks earned fourth place in Big 12 Conference play in the spring.
The team's top player, Chris Thompson, averaged a score of
73. 9.per round last season to place fifth in the Big 12 tournament. He also was an all-conference selection.
"Chris hits the ball a long way and is a very intense competitor," Randall said. "He will definitely be in contention for an individual title in the Big 12."
Thompson will join sophmores Ryan Vermeer and Brad Davis. The team sends five golfers to compete, with four scores counting in competitions.
Randall said the final two spots on the team had not been determined.
"We have some good young golfers coming up and everyone else is fighting for the final two spots and scholarship money," said Randall.
The team is allocated four and a
Tee Off
Time: 2 p.m.
Time: 2 p.m.
Date: Sept. 8, 1997
Where: Alvamar Country Club
Info: First fall practice for the Kansas men's and women's golf teams.
half scholarships.
The men open the season Sept. 22 and 23 with the Kansas Invitational at Alvamar Golf Course.
Of the 11 golfers on the women's team who will return from spring play, eight are from outside Kansas, including two of the squad's top three players, juniors Beth Reuter and Lori Laurenits.
Top newcomers Jamie Tucker
and Ashely Bishop also were sought after intensely by coach Jerry Waugh.
The first tournament for the women's team is Sept. 21-23 at the Northwest Invitational in Corvallis, Ore.
"These girls excelled in junior golf and were highly recruited across the nation," Waugh said. "We feel very fortunate to have them here at Kansas."
Primarily a PAC-10 tournament, the meet features Southern California, the University of California at Los Angeles and host Oregon State.
"We'll line everybody up and see who is playing well," Waugh said. "We plan to have qualifications for the open positions."
Both teams begin practice September 8.
Football players stay on Iowa State roster
The Associated Press
AMES, Iowa — Coach Dan McCarney said yesterday he would not suspend two Iowa State football players charged with simple assault in the beating of a fellow student earlier this month.
Story County authorities charged Matt Rahfaldt, a senior offensive guard from Ames, and Matt Rysavy, a senior tight end from Omaha, Neb.
They are accused of beating Craig Heithoff, an Audubon junior, in the early morning of Aug. 1 at a bar near the Iowa State campus.
McCarney said he had not learned of the charges until Monday but knew of the incident because the two players had told him about it after it happened.
He said both would remain on the team for Saturday night's season opener with Oklahoma State.
"Based on the information we
have, and I h ave addressed this thoroughly. I'm not going to suspend these kids for this
game or any game in the future at this stage, "McCarney said.
"If I feel additional action is warranted in the future, I won't hesitate to address this issue further," he said.
McCarney declined further comment.
Rahalfdt, a 6-foot-3, 286-pounder, is Iowa State's starting left guard.
The 6-1,250-pound Rysavy is a reserve who plays mainly on special teams.
According to court documents, Rahfaldt, Rysavy and three others knocked Heithoff to the floor and then kicked him in the face, chest, head, shoulders and stomach.
Thomas may play in opener
Linebacker's injury keeps Chiefs in limbo
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Linebacker Derrick Thomas, around whom the Kansas City Chiefs redesigned their defense, has begun practicing this week and may be ready for the season opener Sunday at Denver.
The eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker did not play in any of the Chiefs' four exhibition games after he injured his left triceps early in training camp.
He had been practicing with a brace on the arm and may be limited to pass-rushing duties, coach Marty Schottenheimer said yesterday.
"He worked yesterday. We're not going to know his role until later in the wesk." Schottenheimer said. The Chiefs went to a 3-4 defense this year with three down linemen and what they call the "Falcon," who roams from left to right, sometimes down in a stance and sometimes not, rushing the passer sometimes, sometimes dropping back in coverage.
about him playing the whole game, we would feature him as the designated pass-rusher and use him only in the nickel. "Schottenheimer said."
"I think Derrick will play (on Sunday). If we have any concerns at all
Thomas may be prompted to recover in time for the Denver game because he does not want to be sidelined when his buddy Neil Smith makes his debut against Kansas City as defensive end for the Broncos. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Smith was not offered a contract by the Chiefs and signed at Denver. Keith Traylor, another former Chiefs' defensive lineman, also signed a free-agent contract with the Broncos.
Smith, who was upset about not being offered a contract by Kansas City, has said he expected Schottenheimer to run right at him and try to "pump the Chiefs up" against him.
"This isn't about us and Smith," Schottenheimer said. "This is about us and the Denver Broncos. We're going to put a tight end in there and let the tight end help block him. We're going to put a back in there and let the back help block him.
"We're going to know where he is on every play. We may have two guys on him on every play. Yeah, we're going to run at him. And we're going to run away from him."
The KU Men's Club Volleyball Team
will be having our first meeting:
Wednesday, August 27 5:30-8:30 p.m.
215 Robinson
Tryouts and other information
will be discussed then.
Please bring clothes to play in.
THURSDAY
8/27 - Playgirl International
8/28 - Rob Base
9/10 - America's Loverboys
9/17 - Chippendales