THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2006
SPORTS
3B
KANSAN File Photo
The men's golf team tied with USC for fifth place Tuesday. The Jayhawks, who barely made it in to the Top 100 last season, are close to a top 25 ranking.
MEN'S GOLF
Consecutive top-five finishes showcase improvement, success
BY ASHER FUSCO
After fighting through a disappointing 2006 season and enduring the loss of assistant coach Roy Edwards during the summer, there were quite a few question marks surrounding the Kansas men's golf team.
After a fourth-consecutive top-five finish, the only question that remains is just how far the Jayhawks can climb.
Helped by some exceptional play from the senior tandem of Gary Woodland and Tyler Docking, Kansas finished in a tie for fifth place at the Prestige at PGA West tournament.
Coming into the tournament, Woodland was the Jayhawks lone star. On Tuesday, he was more than willing to share the spotlight
with Docking. Docking rebounded from a first-round 75 to post a second-round 69 and a third-round 67 that ultimately lifted him into a tie with Woodland for fourth place.
"Tyler Docking got off to such good starts in the second and third rounds," coach Ross Randall said. "It was great to see him regain some confidence in his game."
Woodland had trouble with his putting throughout the tournament, but managed to fire a 70 in Tuesday's final round to secure his fourth-straight Top-10 finish.
Sophomore Zach Pederson showed vast improvement over a poor showing on Monday, shooting a 69 in the third round to move into a tie for 31st place.
Senior Barrett Martens and freshman Bobby Knowles finished
in 66th and 70th places, respectively. Both players tied for those spots.
The tournament, held at the Greg Norman Course in LaQuinta, Calif., featured some of the strongest teams from across the nation within the 16-team field.
The team that Kansas tied for fifth, USC, entered the tournament first in the nation in the most recent Golfweek national rankings.
Stanford finished two strokes ahead of runner-up UCLA to take home the team title. Zack Miller of Stanford won the individual competition with a score of 207, just four strokes better than Woodland and Docking.
The Jayhawks entered the tournament ranked 27th nationally and figure to move into the Top 25
after the impressive showing. For a team that struggled to break the Top 100 for much of last season, success on the national level is refreshing and not to be taken for granted.
"Obviously I'm very pleased with the way we're playing." Randall said. "The guys are starting to come around, but there is always some work to do."
Kansas will look to continue their run toward the top of the rankings in Wilmington, N.C., on Oct. 27 at the Landfall Tradition Tournament.
Kansan sportswriter Asher Fusco can be contacted at afusco@ kansan.com.
Edited by Jacky Carter
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
Conference coaches praise injured Sooner
BY DOUG TUCKER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — He's the closest thing to Barry Sanders that Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy says he's ever seen. Iowa State's Dan McCarney called him "truly an amazing football player."
To Texas coach Mack Brown, he's one of the best running backs ever.
Now Adrian Peterson is probably finished as a college football player. Nevertheless, the coaches he had bedeved with his speed, power and shiftiness were full of praise after the
Oklahoma star broke his collarbone Saturday.
"I grew up in this state. I watched Billy Sims, (Elvis) Peacock, all those guys," Gundy said on the Big 12 coaches' Monday conference call.
"He's the closest I've seen to Barry Sanders. I really hated to see that he got hurt. He's an amazing runner. I'm sure we'll see a lot more of him in the future on Sunday."
Peterson was at the end of a 53-yard touchdown run in No. 20 Oklahoma's 34-9 victory over Iowa State on Saturday when he was hurt. The best-case scenario is that the
talented junior, the first Oklahoma back to amass 3,000 yards rushing in his first two seasons, might get back in time for a bowl game.
"He's as good as any I've seen, including Heisman Trophy winners." McCarney said. "He is truly an amazing football player. He had two runs in that game, I don't know if wed had 14 or 15 guys on the field wed have stopped him. Hopefully, he'll go on and have a great career."
The Sooners are determined to plow on without him.
"I feel strongly as a team we'll overcome it," said Oklahoma coach
Bob Stoops.
Three possible replacements are juniors Allen Patrick and Jacob Gutierrez and freshman Mossis Madru.
"We'll be able to overcome the loss and do well," Stoops said. "No one in our program feels it will hold us back. We're just disappointed for him personally."
It seems difficult to believe the loss of such a high-quality back will not weaken the Sooners.
"Adrian is one of the best backs to ever play game, a tenacious runner," Brown said. "We hate it for him."
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Women Running for Office
Women's Leadership Series 2006
Sessions will focus on women running for office (state or national)
Pick your favorite candidate and follow her campaign. We will discuss the different races and predict the winners.
Watch women's leadership in action!
When and Where:
At the Dole Institute of Politics
Sunday, Oct. 22 5:00-6:30 pm
Sunday, Oct. 29 5:00-6:30 pm
Sunday, Nov. 5 5:00-6:30 pm
Wednesday, Nov. 8 7:00-8:30 pm
For more information contact the Dole Institute at 864-4900 or doleinstitute@ku.edu
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