By Scott Long
Staff Writer
It’s early, but the men’s golf team is already trying to fight its way out of the middle of the pack.
The Pepperdine team participated in the Adams Cup in Newport, R.I., Monday and Tuesday when they placed fifth in a field of 12.
Not a bad finish, but as one of the top teams entering this week’s tournament, it was a bit of a letdown for the Waves.
“It was an overall mediocre performance as everyone on the team played sub-par in Newport,” said junior golfer Brian O’Flaherty. “It is early in the season, and our team is still geling and trying to find out who our top five players are going to be.”
Minnesota, a squad that won the national championship two years ago, claimed top spot at the Adams Cup
Top individual performances for the Waves PHOTO COURTESY ATHLETIC included junior Michael Putnam and senior DEPARTMENT Randy Creighton. Both shot 6-over par for
final scores of 222.
Despite a disappointing finish in Rhode Island, there are some positive things the team is looking to build on.
“The National tournament is in Virginia this year,” pointed out O’Flaherty. “The experience we gained by traveling three times zones away to the East Coast to play in those weather conditions will prove invaluable for the post-season.”
The Waves next step toward improvement this season will happen this week as they host the Club Glove Intercollegiate tournament in nearby Camarillo. The tournament will include such teams as Arizona State, Arkansas, Texas A&M and UC Irvine. As the first home tournament of the season, Pepperdine is expected to fair well.
“Everyone on the team is very familiar with the course and we are all comfortable playing there,” said O’Flaherty. “I fully expect us to play well, get a win in the tournament and set our season back on track.”
October 02, 2003