| SPORTS
| October 12, 2004
Putting
Rank
The Mavs golf team attributes
its success to the coach and hard work
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| The Shorthorn: Andrew Campbell |
| The Mavericks are all smiles after
winning the SMU Stonebridge Invitational last week. This
is the team’s first tournament win in two years. |
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By Melissa
Winn
Contributor to The Shorthorn
Most teenagers can’t wait to turn 21 to get into clubs. The
Mavericks golf team, however, uses its clubs to get to 21.
The team is currently ranked 21st in the nation by Golfweek magazine
and is off to its best start since the arrival of head coach Jay
Rees six years ago. Last week’s win at the SMU Stonebridge
Invitational was the team’s first in more than two years,
but Rees said it won’t be another two years before they win
again.
“We have individuals on this team that have the ability to
win every tournament they play in,” he said.
Rees said team chemistry and consistency have played a major role
in the Mavericks’ success. Team captain Jordan Krantz agrees.
“We have gelled really well, and the team is very mature,”
he said. “It’s just a matter of everyone playing their
own game well at the same time.”
Krantz, the team’s only senior, thinks the ranking is great
but it’s not as important to him as getting back to the NCAA
regional competition. He said the Mavericks’ ranking is a
reflection of Rees’ hard work with the team.
“I think it’s great to see Coach getting the recognition
he deserves from his peers,” he said.
Co-captain Tyrone Mordt said the team’s attitude has been
a lot better this year and that the players practice harder because
of it. He also said the ranking doesn’t matter.
“I don’t pay any attention to it until the end of the
season,” he said. “That’s when it counts.”
Zach Reeves is new to the team and said that hard work and playing
well together has paid off.
“You can’t go wrong when you have that,” he said.
Reeves said the team would like him to win freshman of the Southland
Conference but he doesn’t feel any extra pressure because
of it.
“It’s a year-long process, and I just have to go out
and keep doing what I am already doing,” he said.
Junior Jeff Murray’s birdie on the second playoff hole won
him medalist honors at the SMU Stonebridge Invitational. It was
the first time the Mavericks had an honors winner since 2001. He
said that he does pay attention to the team rankings.
“It gives me motivation to know where we’re at,”
Murray said. “I always like to know.”
Sophomores Marc Campbell and Bryan Baker complete the team’s
roster. Campbell said that consistency has helped him improve as
a player and that Rees’ passion and dedication has pushed
the team.
Rees said he knows the team has to continue to work hard and that
while the success is great, they can always do better.
“If you start to pay too much attention to the rankings, you
miss steps,” he said. “I try to tell them to focus hard
and play their game no matter what.”
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