Leopards post 2nd in tourney
Campus Times
February 21, 1997
The course the golf team plays on may look a little different from what
it looked like before this season. High winds in January resulted in the
loss of more than 250 trees on the Sierra La Verne course.
But the fallen trees have not slowed the play of the team, which has
jumped out to a perfect 4-0 record and a second place finish at the San
Diego Golf Academy Tournament.
Head coach Rex Huigens is optimistic about the season and feels he has
the talent to win.
"I think we have a number of good players, and we can finish anywhere
from first to third in our conference; hopefully first," said Huigens.
"We have the ability to win if we play well."
The team's ability was tested on Feb. 14 at the tournament. Not all
of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) teams
attended, but a number of them did tee off.
When asked prior to the tournament what the match meant for the team,
Huigens said, "I think it will give us an indication about how we are
going to stack up to some of the better teams."
La Verne did stack up to teams like Pomona-Pitzer, Redlands and Chapman.
In fact, the only team to defeat La Verne in the tournament, San Diego Golf
Academy, was a school that prepares golf club professionals.
The Leopards only lost by four shots to the professionals en route to
the runner-up finish.
Junior Mark Watson won the tournament individually with a four-under-par
68. He shot five birdies and one bogie on the 6,750-yard San Luis Rey Downs
course.
"Mark was obviously outstanding. He was just heads and tails better
than anyone else there on that day anyway," said Huigens.
Freshman Paul Gomez shot 76, which was the sixth best score of the day.
Junior Brian Pitcher shot 80; freshman Scott Garrison shot 81; junior Aaron
Kuhns added 89; and junior Frank Marino rounded out the group with 95.
"(San Luis Rey Downs) was a tough course, and the wind was blowing.
I was really proud of our guys," Huigens said.
On Feb. 12, ULV defeated Whittier by 35 strokes (317-352) in preparation
for the tournament. La Verne and Whittier had six players compete, and the
top four scores determined which team was the winner. Watson and Gomez led
the way for the Leopards by each shooting a five-over-par 76 on the Sierra
La Verne course.
ULV's next match will be Monday against UC San Diego at the Sierra La
Verne Country Club.