4B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2005
SPORTS
Bant
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once. It's a pitch hung here, a fielding error there, a wild throw, an inopportune walk — the small leaks that sink a ship.
Of course, the good thing about "almost" is that eventually it almost always evolves into "is" and "are" — as in Kansas is a competitor in the Big 12, as in the balls are finally bouncing the Jayhawks' way. And with 15 conference games to go before the tournament starts at the end of May, Kansas has more than enough time to put itself in position to compete in the post-season — a run it could begin today by opening its weekend series at Texas Tech with a victory. But for now, the Jayhawks are losers of five straight, in the midst of their biggest slump of the season and still waiting for "almost" to shift to consistent success.
"We just need to get back on track." Price said following the loss to the Shockers. "We're at that point where we need to get rewarded for how hard we've worked and how hard we've played."
♦ Bant is a Colorado Springs, Colo., senior in journalism.
Draft
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possibility of moving him to the linebacker position. "I think that being a linebacker may be more of a natural position for me," McMillan said. "They like my size right now though."
Domann said scouts would be impressed by McMillan's versatility.
"David's a guy who initially can come in and play on third downs and be a D-end," Domann said. "They are not looking for a guy to be superman yet. David has a lot of versatility where he can come in and be very valuable because he can play multiple positions."
McMillan led the Jayhawks with seven sacks and 13 tackles for a loss last fall. McMillan finished his career on a strong note when he recorded three sacks against Missouri in his final game. For his career at Kansas, McMillan had 12 quarterback sacks.
McMillan is not the only Jayhawk that may be drafted this weekend. Senior center Joe Vaughn said he hoped to be drafted in the later rounds, but his size might also be concern. Senior wide receiver Brandon Rideau has the size that NFL scouts look for in a receiver and Rideau, like Vaughn, may be drafted in the later rounds. If these players are not drafted, they could be signed as free agents and work to get a spot on the roster through training camp.
McMillan spoke with Vaughn recently, he said.
McMillan spoke with Vaughn recently, he said. "I hope for the best for them, so that they can get drafted and show everyone that they can play on that level also." McMilan said.
Big crowds highlight LPGA event
- Edited by Austin Caster
BY WILL WEISSERT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MORELIA, Mexico — Natalie Gulbis shot a 6-under 66 yesterday to take a two-stroke lead in the Corona Morelia Championship, while Lorena Ochoa struggled to a 71 in her second LPGA Tour event in her homeland.
Sweden's Carin Koch was two strokes back at 68 along with Audra Burks. Burks had an eagle, three birdies and a bogev.
Nancy Scranton offset three bogeys with six birdies and was tied for fourth place with Sweden's Maria Hjorth and Italy's Giulia Sergas at 69 on the Tres Marias Residential Golf Club course.
The 22-year-old Gulbis started on the back nine and, after opening with a par, reeled off three straight birdies. She added three more after making the turn, using a long, accurate drives to stay out of trouble.
"I'm very fortunate that I have good distance off the tee and that definitely helped on a golf course like this one," said Gulbis, whose six birdies came on putts of less than 10 feet. "I had a lot of wedges today ... and you can fire at pins when you have short wedges in your hand."
Gulibs, looking for her first victory in her fourth LPGA season, said she's been in the lead on tour "six to 10 times."
Guillermo Arias/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
"It's not a lot of pressure, but there are very good players on tour," she said.
Natalie Gulbis of the United States acknowledges the gallery after finishing her round on the ninth hole during the first round of the LPGA Corona Morela Championship yesterday at the Tres Marias Residential Golf Club, in Morelia City, Mexico. Gulbis finished the day at 6-under par.
third, she hit an 8-iron into the water, and settled for a double bogey.
Burks made eagle at the 355-yard, par-4 17th, her eighth hole, sinking a 129-wedge wedge shot.
The 23-year-old native of Guadalajara, just 175 miles from colonial Morlela, is tied for 28th and is very familiar with the layout.
"The first round is the hardest one, so I'm over with that." Ochoa said. "I know where I am right now and I think I'm going to feel more relaxed tomorrow. The good thing is I know the course, I know the leaders, how they play."
Ochoa was the story heading into the event. She won twice last year to become the LPGA Tour's first Mexican champion and is trying for the second time to win in her homeland.
Ochoa started on the back nine and bogeyed Nos. 11 and 13. She made birdie at Nos. 14 and 18 and added another at the second. At the par-3
"I hit the ball pretty good," she said. "Just a couple of bad shots and it cost me a lot of strokes."
Ochoa's opening round mirrored a disappointing start in the LPGA's first visit to Mexico earlier this year. At that event, she appeared nervous and opened with a 1-under 71, five strokes behind eventual winner Annika Sorenstam, who is not competing this week.
Ochoa insisted nerves weren't a problem, despite hundreds of cheering fans, including dozens who followed
her every hole, trudging up steep hills despite stifling temperatures in the high 80s and blazing sunshine.
Crowd noise and a large press following slowed Ochoa's round, which lasted more than five hours. The raucous atmosphere drew complaints from other players.
The crowds are expected to get larger this weekend, and 100 friends and family members were expected to arrive in Morelia to cheer on Ochoa.
Ochoa has overcome listless opening rounds before. At the Takefuji Classic in Las Vegas last week. Ochoa used a career-best 63 to charge into
contention and eventually finished second to Wendy Ward.
"What happened last week, it helped me a lot," Ochoa said.
Ward, playing the week after a victory for the first time, opened with a 71.
Jennifer Rosales of the Philippines, withdrew after seven holes because of an injury to her right wrist.
Rosales said she hurt the same wrist last year, causing her to withdraw from some tournaments. She also withdrew from the MasterCard Classic last month after stepping in a hole and twisting her ankle.
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