THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2005
WOMEN'S GOLF
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 3B
Big ambitions drive team leader
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Work ethic is key to junior golfer's success this year
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MARK DENT
mdent@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
This may be a breakout season for junior golfer Amanda Costner.
The look of a winner is seen in the precocious look in her blue eyes. Her solid golf game is apparent in her thirdplace individual finish at the Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic.
But most importantly, her determination is heard in the cool confidence of her speech.
"I want to win at least another tournament and
go to Regional," Costner said. "I want to be an All-American."
Costner has already made strides this summer by qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Public Links and the U.S. Women's Amateur, the two most prominent tournaments for amateurs in the country.
Last season, Costner won her first college tournament at The Lady Boilermaker Invitational at Purdue University in what she said was her proudest golf achievement.
SPORTS
Costner's work ethic has not only benefitted herself, but also benefited the rest of the team.
Amanda Costner
"The team looks to Amanda to see what we are striving for," sophomore teammate Sarah Kierl said.
I want to win at least another tournament and go to Regionals. I want to be an All-American."
"Her hard work is paying off and making the team better."
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Costner has used the influence of her father to reach new heights in her golf game.
Her father showed her how to be diligent when she was a kid growing up in Claremore, Okla.
Jack Dempsey/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
"My dad always kept on pushing me. He took me away from sitting on the couch and just being lazy," Costner said, "I wouldn't be here without him."
Costner's father, a preacher in Claremore, gave his daughter the gift of faith as well.
When Costner was a senior at Claremore High School, she did not receive any scholarship offers from Division I Oklahoma schools.
This included Tulsa, her No. 1 choice at the time.
Costner's faith shined through when she talked about her present situation in Lawrence.
"KU is where I'm supposed to be." Costner said. "God sent me here for a reason."
Costner has an interest in arts as well. She said she played the guitar and drums in her spare time.
She also has an interest in Harry Potter movies and stayed up all night to read the newest book. She enjoys a bit of television, too.
"I love 'Higher Ground,'" she said. "It was on Fox Family in like 1998, but nobody has ever heard of it. Luckily, it was on some digital cable channel this summer so I taped all of the episodes."
"And if that doesn't work, I want to help people."
"After I graduate, I want to be on the Futures Tour," she said of the professional women's tour that serves as a stepping stone to the LPGA tour.
Costner is obviously having fun off the course, but she knows when she needs to focus on school and golf in order to reach her goal of becoming a professional. Costner is a behavioral sciences major at Kansas.
Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey says he doesn't regret making comments about the Chiefs not playing hard during the two teams' Monday night match-up. Bailey's comments frustrated Kansas City coach Dick Vermeil.
— Edited by Anne Burgard
Bailey defends remarks
NFL
BY EDDIE PELLS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DENVER — Champ Bailey didn't apologize when he learned he made Kansas City coach Dick Vermeil mad for saying the Chiefs weren't playing hard.
Instead, Bailey insisted he'd say it again.
"I'm doing my job, doing it well," Bailey said Wednesday. "I'm going to keep doing it and I'm going to talk about it."
At issue were statements Bailey made to teammates during Denver's 30-10 victory over Kansas City on Monday. Bailey wore a microphone during the game and some of his comments were heard on ABC.
"The way they played up there in Kansas City, it ain't the same, though," said Bailey, referring to last season's 45-17 Chiefs win. "They're playing a little different. They're not playing as hard. I ain't going to relax, though."
Bailey left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury, which has put his availability in limbo for next week's game in Jacksonville, which would be his 100th consecutive start.
The results of the MRI exam were better than he expected.
"I don't know the complete diagnosis," Bailey said Wednesday. "I just know I didn't tear anything and that was the best news possible."
It didn't look as good last Monday night when he dragged down Chiefs fullback Tony Richardson for a modest gain late in the second quarter. He tried to get up, but the leg buckled under him.
"The way it felt then, I thought my leg was going to fall apart," Bailey said. "I'm fine now."
Still, the hamstring wasn't good enough to allow him to practice Wednesday.
"I'm very optimistic I'll play," he said. "I always think I can play. I never count myself out."
On Tuesday, Vermeil vented some frustration over Bailey's in-game comments.
"I know this — none of our players said Champ Bailey didn't play
hard when we beat them by three touchdowns last year out here," Vermeil said. "Eddie Kennison didn't say that Champ Bailey was not playing hard."
Vermeil said he has never let his players wear microphones during games because "sometimes that embarrasses the player."
If Bailey was embarrassed or upset about what he said, it sure didn't
sound like it Wednesday.
"I'm not going to shy away from speaking my mind," Bailey said. "I felt like I was kicking (expletive). So, I just said it."
Share your space, but live on your own.
All furnishings pictured are from Wal-Mart.
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