SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, August 16, 1995
13B
Golf teams swinging to new heights
Men's golf counts on experienced group of seniors
By Spencer Duncan Kansan sportswriter
Coming off of a Top 15 national ranking and a second place finish behind Oklahoma State in the Big Eight Conference Championship, Kansas men's golfers and coach Ross Randall are looking toward experience and a desire to win to compel them to a strong season.
"We were in the Top 15 last year," Randall said. "Our goal is trying to be a Top 10 team."
This season, the team has six seniors, bringing with them the experience Randall hopes will improve the team and propel them to a higher national ranking.
These high expectations do not discourage senior golfer Dan Rooney, who shares his coach's enthusiasm.
"On paper we have the best team Kansas has ever seen, and the best team around," he said. "We don't think anyone should beat us."
Experience will be key in the Jayhawks' success.
Kansas returns three other players who participated in the NCAA National Tournament last season. They are Alan Stearns, Kit Grove, and Slade Adams, who won last year's Big Eight Championship. Randall believes these golfers and seniors Jason Seeman, Chad Roesler, and Heath Mayor will create a potent group for rival teams to compete against.
Kansas struggled early last spring. Bad weather in February and March hurt their game.The team regained its composure and began April as strong as it had been all season. The team finished five strokes behind Oklahoma State to finish second in the Big Eight for the third straight season.
The Jayhawks qualified for the NCAA National Tournament with a ninth place finish at the regional tournament.
"Getting to the national tournament was a good accomplishment," Randall said. "It was a big step for the team."
The showing at the national tournament was strong, but the team finished 16th in a field of 30. While that seemed like a positive finish, it was still too early an exit to satisfy everyone. The early goodbye now serves as a reminder to those who participated.
said. "I don't want to lose anymore. We left with a bad taste in our mouths. Let's just turn it around."
It's also important to Randall and the Jayhawks that the knowledge on this team is not wasted. Ensuring the seasoned golfers impart their wisdom to the young members of the roster is considered essential.
"It's no fun to lose," Rooney
"You lead by experience," Randall said. "The seniors will help the younger guys improve their game."
Besides the competition facing Kansas from other schools, this team finds fierce competition among teammates.
There are only four to five spots on the traveling team, opening up competition on a roster of 15 players. Competition among players for those spots can be beneficial, and, Randall believes, increase the competitiveness of the team.
"Where it should be very competitive is for spots three, four, and down through eight," Randall said.
Randall is hesitant to predict how the Big Eight race will turn out this year.
"We're going to win the Big Eight," Rooney said with a grin. "Oklahoma State can't compete."
Rooney is quicker to predict how things will end.
Women's team looking to recruits for consistency
By Spencer Duncan Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas women's golf team is counting on its young players and new recruits to reach top form this season.
Few of this years players are bothered by the fact that only two seniors and three juniors are on the roster.
"We are a young team," junior Ann Clark said. "We have lots of experience and tournaments between us. I don't think it hurts us that we are young, because we have all this experience."
team can find that, if they do we will be successful."
Kansas women's golf
Lynn Williamson and Tara Donnelly are the only seniors on the team. Williamson competed in a majority of last years tournaments, and Donnelly has not competed in over a year.
"This team has continued to strengthen," Waugh said. "What you look for is consistency. Any coach will tell you that. I think this
The juniors include Clark, Kelly Marney, and Missy Russell. These five players may find themselves carrying a heavy load if the young players have problems.
coach Jerry Waugh is not bothered by the youth of his team because he is confident his players have worked hard. He is also confident in his new recruits.
"Williamson looks good and we can count on her," said Waugh. "Donnelly played none last year so we will have to see how she does. Missy Russell is a strong leader
and a good player. I can count on most of these players."
The players also know they have to perform better.
Last year was somewhat disappointing for the Jayhawks because they finished in sixth place, just ahead of Kansas State in the Big Eight Championships. Throughout the season the women had finished fourth or higher in most of the
"The older players realize we have to step it up a notch," Clark said. "We have a strong
nucleus as a team and we want to finish higher in the conference."
tournaments they entered. When heading to the Big Eight Championships they were confident they would come away in the top four.
"It was disappointing because we did not take advantage of mistakes the other teams made," Waugh said. "But this year I think this team can compete in the upper part of the conference."
The hopes for this season are greater than last This team is looking past the youth of three sophomores and four freshman. They have their eyes set on winning.
"We have a good schedule and I think we will do well," Clark said.
Waugh is looking to recruits to give the team a boost.
"We have a good group of recruits this year and they are going to help where we need it," he said.
Kansas has two recruits from Oklahoma, Stefanie Clark and Jennifer Hayes, and one from Kansas in Mandy Munsch. Waugh looks to these recruits for the extra consistency the team needs.
Waugh believes it will all depend on how hard the team worked in the off-season.
"Progress is made in the summer, away from the coach," said Waugh. "That's the time to practice. If they did that, then we will have a good season."
New icons take floor at Allen Field House
Court used by volleyball and basketball teams is undergoing resanding and changes in floor design to improve look.
By Adam Herschman Kansan sportswriter
The next time fans are at Allen Field House to "Rock Chalk" with the Kansas Jayhawks, a new look will add to Jayhawkmania
Since Aug. 5, the court in the field house has undergone some
The second reason has to do with the rearrangement of the logos and designs on court, Cook said.
Darren Cook, director of athletic facilities, expressed two main reasons why the court needed some attention. First, the hardwood floor needed to be resanded because the paint had begun to peel.
with the out of bounds lines. On the old floor, the word "Jayhawks" was below "Kansas" and was off center towards the end lines.
"It's part of routine maintenance," Cook said.
The second alteration changed the position of the two Jayhawk mascots. Last year they were outside the three point line at each end. Now, they are inside the three
"It was done for television purposes," he said. "It brings more exposure to the Kansas Jayhawks."
The floor's new design contains three significant differences from the old floor, which was installed in 1992. This year, the words "Kansas Jayhawks," which were in the center of the floor, now run parallel
point stripe and near the foul line.
The final change was made to the map of Kansas at center court. The star that marked the location of Lawrence on the map was replaced with a Jayhawk.
The project completion date will probably be pushed back from the target date of Aug. 28 because of the humidity, which prevented the paint from drying, Cook said.
Despite the hot conditions, the floor is nearing completion. Hardwood Floor Professionals, nationally known sign painter David Hightower and graphic designer D.W. Acker are finishing the work.
"Having the opportunity to do design work, you feel very privileged." Acker said.
Richard Devinki / KANSAN
The map of Kansas with a Jayhawk marking Lawrence will soon disappear from the Allen Field House floor. It will be repainted and redesigned as part of a minor restoration process which began on August 5.
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