THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
---
SPORTS
3B
GOLF
Tony Avelar/AS0OCIATED PRESS
Phil Mickelson tees off on the 12th hole during the first round of the Pebble Beach National Pro- Am golf tournament at Poppy Hills golf course in Pebble Beach, Calif. Thursday, Mickelson is tied for the lead after the first day.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The dream was still alive, though. The site drew 200,000 page views on the day before the game, and according to Fishkins'
Man proposes in TV ad
Fishkin, 27, got into the advertising gambit after a Tennessee man who started a Web site to try to raise $2.6 million to buy a Super Bowl ad learned last fall that his dream girl would turn him down.
SEATTLE — Rand Fishkin wanted to propose to his girlfriend with a Super Bowl ad. That didn't quite work out, but there was still local TV, and he got the answer he wanted.
Fishkin took over the Web site — mysuperproposal.com — which by then had dropped the fundraising plan in favor of luring a corporate sponsor, and things were looking good.
UNUSUAL AD
relatives, CBS called on game day to say the network would air a video he made himself as an in-house spot. But then the network called again by halftime to say the ad didn't run after all.
So Fishkin turned to another funding source — his mom—and bought a $3,000 local ad on Tuesday during his girlfriend's favorite show, "Veronica Mars."
In his ad, Fishkim, held up a picture of himself and Geraldine DeRuiter, 26.
"And that's why I'm here today.
Geraldine, will you marry me?"
"The whole world?" he says.
"This is Geraldine. She is amazing in every way. For the last five years, we've spent the best parts of our lives together and made it through the tough times, too. I couldn't ask for anything more in my life than her love.
Right after the ad aired, DeRuiter said yes.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
perhaps the key to containing Jackson will be disrupting guard Carla Cortijo's passing lanes. Smith is capable of doing just that.
"I don't think the game is over till the last horn sounds," she said. "I keep telling my teammates to push and work through it."
Mickelson tied for lead
Henrickson's trademark victory since taking over the Kansas program was last year's 70-61 win over Texas. If she could lead the struggling layhawks into Austin and come out with a win it would not only surpass last year's triumph but be a defining moment in a season full of disappointment.
Kansan sportswriter Case Keefer can be contacted at ckeefer@kansan.com.
Whether this week marks the return of Mickelson won't be decided for three more days.
The best round belonged to Mallinger, a 27-year-old rookie who was on the wrong course at the right time. He was at Pebble Beach, which is exposed to the wind along the cliffs of the ocean Mallinger,
BY DOUG FERGUSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mickelson and Watney played at Poppy Hills, the easiest of three courses in the rotation because it is the farthest from the Pacific Ocean and shielded by trees.
One thing was clear on a gray afternoon on the Monterey Peninsula was the return of the miserable conditions that have made this tournament infamous over the years. It was cold, wet and windy — known as "Crosby" weather in these parts because of the years when Bing Crosby was the tournament host.
Edited by Trevan McGee
Mickelson, nowhere near the leaderboard since his collapse at the U.S. Open last summer, eagled his final hole at Poppy Hills for a 7-under 60 to share the lead with rookie John Mallinger and Nick Watney in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Four tournaments into his season, Phil Mickelson showed signs of turning the corner Thursday.
Mickelson is a two time winner at Pebble Beach, his most recent victory coming two years ago when he
Jim Furky played his best golf in the worst conditions, making five birds on the back nine at Spyglass Hill for a 67. Also at 67 was Arjun Atwal, another early starter at Pebble Beach who went without a bogy until the 18th. The wind was blowing so hard off the ocean that his tee shot sailed right of a bunker, nearly into the hedges.
"It was beneficial," he said.
He should clarify "good" in this case, because sunshine has graced this picturesque peninsula the last six years. It was good for 14 holes because the flags weren't bending sideways, the clouds had not released the rain and it didn't feel like winter.
however, started his round on the 10th tee in the virtual calm of the morning, and gusts strong enough to topple a tree at Spyglass Hill didn't arrive until he had only five holes remaining.
Then again, it helped that he made 100 feet worth of birdie putts on his first three holes, starting with a 60-footer from just short of the 10th green.
"I got 14 holes with good weather," Mailing said. "Those are where you make your birdies, so when you've got good weather, you've got an advantage."
opened with a 62 at Spyglass and was never seriously challenged the rest of the week.
He had not played since going 0-4-1 at the Ryder Cup, taking a three-month break and approaching this year feeling fresh. Instead, he looked rusty at the Bob Hope Classic and Buick Invitational, where he finished in the middle of the pack, and at the FBR Open last week outside Phoenix, where he missed the cut.
Mickelson ran off three straight birdies on the back nine at Poppy Hills, made the turn in 31 and then settled for pars in the cold, blustery conditions until the par-5 ninth, where he shot into a share of the lead.
Poppy was the place to be.
It was the only course that averaged under par in the opening round, while the average at Pebble Beac<sup>1</sup> was nearly 75.
Pebble was a pussycat in the cool, calm of the morning. The flags were limp, the greens were holding and several players easily climbed to the top of the leaderboard. Then, it was a matter of holding on.
John Daly was among the early contenders at 4 under through his first seven holes. His final tee shot hopped over the edge and down onto the rocks along the 18th, and he made bogey for a 72.
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
Tigers land Missouri's top prospect
COLUMBIA, Mo. — National signing day was a bit of an anti-climax for Missouri recruiting director Dave Yost, who had lost his voice shouting encouragement during early-morning workouts with the six new players already on campus.
The Tigers' 27 player class announced Wednesday included two freshmen who secured their diplomas early, in time to enroll for the second semester. Linebackers Michael Keck of Harrisonville, ranked the No.1 prospect in the state according to two scouting services, and Luke Lambert of Brookfield, joined four junior college transfers getting a head start on spring practice.
- "By the time we get to spring ball 'they'll be veterans'"
- They're the first freshmen to enroll early at Missouri.
- Enrolling early is common for junior college transfers. Coach Gary Pinkel said it's becoming a trend for high school students, too.
"We've had some guys talk about it before." Yost said. "This year, Michael Keck said he was going to do it and we said that was fine. Then Luke said he wanted to do it, too."
Those two are joining four junior college transfers for informal 6 a.m. twice weekly workouts for the next five weeks, along with weight lifting sessions. The Juco transfers are defensive linemen Jaysen Corbett of Galt, Calif., and Andy Maples of Lester, Ala., defensive back Justin Garrett of Baton Rouge, La., and wide receiver/defensive back
"We're seeing it more and more," Pinkel said. "I think if a player really wants to do it, and it's in his heart to do it, it's great. We like it as 'coaches.'"
Tremane Vaughns of Patterson, La.
Pinkel, who'll be entering his seventh season at Missouri, said this is his largest early enrollment class.
"They're good kids," he said. "When you can drop those kids on your depth chart in January, that gives them a chance to get really involved.
Keck was judged the top prospect in the state by both Rivals.com and Super Prep, and leads a class that was highly decorated whether or not they make it at the next level. Missouri views such scouting services mainly as entertainment for diehard fans, although many players seem acutely aware of where they rank.
Daniel has the goods to go with his EA Sports national high school player of the year award in 2004, seizing the Missouri quarterback job last year as a redshirt sophomore. But so did Danario Alexander, who got a chance to play as a true freshman due to injuries last year and caught a long touchdown pass in the Sun Bowl.
"The kids really pay attention to it, they'll say 'They've only got me as a 3-star. coach. What's up with that?' Yost said. "Chase Daniel knew exactly where he was and who was ahead of him."
J. T. Beasley of Dyersburg, Tenn., was ranked the No.16 center in the nation by Rivals. Carl Gettis of O'Fallon, Mo., was ranked the No.45 running back prospect in the nation and Dominique Hamilton the No.29 defensive tackle prospect — both by Rivals.
Danario was a 2-star guy and he played as a freshman and there's a bunch of 4-star receivers who didn't play because they weren't ready, Yost said. "You never know how fast
Missouri has its own numbers to sell. Recruiters can point to three bowl trips in four years, along with gooey bags players receive from organizing committees. When 42 junior prospects were in town a week ago, the tour highlight was the school's recently completed $16 million renovation and expansion of the athletic training complex.
"It is really second to none" Pinkel said.
How else would you know I'm a KU fan?
a guy's going to come on and what he can do"
The exclusive provider of KU Jayhawk Visa Check, Credit and Gift Cards, benefiting the KU Alumni Association.
yes you can. INTRUST Bank.
Tomorrow, it's our first ever
SCREW MIZZOU PARTY
>>> BAR OPENS AT NOON
>>> FREE CHILI DOGS
SATURDAY SPECIALS
$3.50 Double Admiral Nelson, Beam & Skyy Drinks
$2 Big Beers
GO JAYHAWKS! BEAT THE TIGERS!
HOME OF THE RALLY SHOT 1340 Ohio • 843-9273