8B the university daily kansan
wednesday, february 18,2004
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Golf team opens strong top third in first tourney
The Kansas golf team made its season debut this week at the Rio Pinar Country Club, in Orlando, Fla.
The Jayhawks finished tied for sixth place with 18 teams entered in the tournament.
South Alabama won the tournament by defeating Central Florida in a playoff.
Third place went to Coastal Carolina.
Gareth Maybin of South Alabama took individual honors by shooting a three-round total of 8-under par 208.
Finishing in the top third of the field was an impressive start for the Jayhawks. Juniors Andrew Price and Kevin Ward led the team by both shooting 1 under pat totals of 215.
"Andrew and Kevin both played very well this tournament," coach Ross Randall said. "We are going to get back on the course and practice more before the next tournament."
Of the entire field, that earned them a tie for seventh place individually.
Freshman Tyler Docking carded a three-round total of 231.
Freshman Gary Woodland shot a three-round total of 233 and sophomore Ryan Rainer had a three-round total of 235.
"The team played better in today's round," Randall said. "We shook off a little of the rust from yesterday and shot a one-over-round as a team."
Royals outfielder to battle for last spot on team roster
Kansas golf trees off next from the Oak Hill Country Club in San Antonio, where it will compete in the UTSA Invitational on March 1 and 2.
Eric Sorrentino
The Associated Press
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Dee Brown knows his chances to make the Kansas City Royals' roster out of spring training became slim after the club signed free agent outfielders Juan Gonzalez and Matt Stairs.
Brown, who was a 1996 first-round pick, began the 2001 season as the Royals designated hitter. He won a roster spot last year as a utility outfielder after hitting .348 with five home runs and 21 RBIs in spring training.
But a wrist injury in May kept him out for seven weeks and
"When they lost Raul (Ibanez, an outfielder who signed in November with Seattle), I knew they weren't going with me." Brown said after a Tuesday workout. "I knew they would get another outfielder. When they signed Matt Stairs and Juan Gonzalez, it wasn't a surprise to me.
ended the season hitting just 227 in 50 games. He had only 53 atbats after the All-Star break.
"Was I happy when they signed Juan and Matt? No."
Stairs, like Brown, hits left-handed.
The Royals have said left field is Aaron Gearl's job to lose after
he hit .277 with 15 home runs in 99 games last season. Gonzalez will start in right field and Carlos Beltran returns in center. The Royals picked up Rich Thompson as a late inning defensive specialist and for his speed.
If no Royals' outfielder is hurt in spring training, Brown's path to Kansas City is essentially blocked.
Brown also is out of minor league options. If he does not make the major league club, Brown would have to clear waivers, which is unlikely, before the Royals could send him back to their minor league team in Omaha.
BAYLOR: Battling Bears at home may give Jayhawks an advantage
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
John Lucas transferred to Oklahoma State, power forward Lawrence Roberts transferred to Mississippi State and forward Kenny Taylor went to Austin, Texas. The three players, who are all now on top-15 teams, score a combined average of 39.2 points per game.
Despite a depleted lineup, the Bears still have capable scorers and are led by a fiery first-year head coach, Scott Drew.
Drew, who was an assistant under his father, Homer, at Valparaiso, has gained respect from other Big 12 coaches and Baylor fans for getting the most from his players.
"Scott has done a good job because you know that has been a dicey situation," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "If I was a Baylor fan, with all of the stuff they have gone through and looking for a fresh start, I would be really proud to be a guy who supports the program."
Kansas (15-6, 7-3), will look for relief in its home court tonight, in their first home game since the Feb. 7 defeat of Texas Tech.
Kansas is 9-1 at home this year.
Heavy defeats away may have caused some fans to lose confidence in the Jayhawks, but freshman forward J.R. Giddens is not worried.
"If I was a Baylor fan, with all of the stuff they have gone through and looking for a fresh start, I would be really proud to be a guy who supports the program."
"After we win a couple of
Bill Self Men's basketball coach
games, some of those fairweather fans will be back," Giddens said. "It's really not about them, it's about us."
Not everyone is convinced returning to Allen Fieldhouse will be a cure-all. Following Sunday's loss at Nebraska, Self, along with junior forward Wayne Simien, questioned the commitment of everyone on the team.
The focus of the team is on getting everyone to put fort the same effort, not on returning home.
"Losing a basketball game is losing a basketball game, no matter where it is," Langford said. "I think if Nebraska would have played like they played Sunday in the Fieldhouse, they probably still would have won the game. It's all predicated on how the team plays no matter what arena we're in."
-Edited by Meghan Brune
BAYLOR (7-16 overall, 2-8 Big 12)
Probable Starters
Pos. Name Yr. PPG RPG
F Terrance Thomas Sr. 16.6 7.4
F Harvey Thomas Jr. 15.9 5.9
F Tommy Swanson So. 6.9 4.2
G Matt Sayman Sr. 7.9 4.5
G Carl Marshall Fr. 4.1 1.2
Top Reserves
C R.T. Guinn Sr. 9.4 4.7
G Corey Herring So. 7.7 3.6
KANSAS (15-6 overall, 7-3 Big 12)
Probable Starters
Pos. Name Yr. PPG RPG
F David Padgett Fr. 7.3 5.1
F Wayne Simien Jr. 16.4 9.4
G Mike Lee Jr. 5.9 3.0
G Keith Langford Jr. 15.8 4.4
G Aaron Miles Jr. 9.4 4.2
Top Reserves
G J.R. Giddens Fr. 9.8 3.4
F Christian Moody So. 1.5 0.9
Eric Braem/Kensar
Freshman forward J.R. Giddens dunked the ball during Kansas' victory over the Colorado Buffaloes in Allen Fieldhouse Jan. 25. The Jayhawks will take on the Baylor Bears at 7 tonight at in the Fieldhouse.
TENNIS DOUBLES Aggressive play makes for team 1-2 punch
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
Haylock grew up playing on grass courts in Australia. Grass courts force a player to come to the net more often. She was taught to attack the net.
Filberth, 5-feet-5 with short, brown hair, is quiet. She likes to keep her emotions in check on the court.
Yet Haylock, 5-feet-10 with long, blond hair, is loud and outgoing. She is not afraid to let the other team see her emotions.
"With Emily's leadership and ability to communicate on the courts, it takes Ashley's tennis game to a different level," Kansas coach Amy Hall said.
Filberth is a baseline player. Her powerful serve sets up the first volley for Haylock nicely.
They are both aggressive and assertive power hitters. One is still developing and the other is peaking.
Filberth is still adjusting to play at the college level.
She didn't play for the team at her new high school. She focused on her individual game at the Mike Wolf Tennis Academy.
She played for Notre Dame de Sion High School in Kansas City, Mo., for a couple of years, but transferred to Blue Valley Northwest High School when Sion wouldn't let her leave class early to train.
She wasn't used to having the pressure to perform for a team fall on her. She never played on a team in juniors tennis. Unlike Haylock, she never played doubles.
Filberth was used to bearing the mental pressure on the court alone.
But that's all changed now.
Kansas' number one doubles team lost, and the number three doubles team won. Filberth and Haylock cruised into first match, up 3-0.
Kansas' first match of the season was Feb. 1 in Topeka against Mississippi.
Despite the home crowd cheering on the team from only 6 feet away, the momentum of the match switched.
Haylock and Filberth fell behind, 4-6. They won the next game, then lost again. The score was evened at seven.
"The other team didn't know I was nervous," Filberth said. "I was just telling her."
But she wasn't by herself anymore. She had Haylock to ease the mental pressure.
Haylock thrives on this atmosphere. She loves the crowd and pressure.
"I just told her to take some deep breathes and relax," Haylock said.
The strategy worked and Haylock and Filberth came back to win the next two games and the match. Kansas won the doubles point.
By the end of the match, Filberth was able to let it all soak in and smile.
"We were having a great time," she said.
—Edited by Amanda Kim Stairrett