UW Men's Golfers Host Pac-10 Championships
The Stage: Can anybody beat Arizona State? The Sun Devils have won four straight conference titles coming into Seattle. Arizona was the last team besides ASU to win it 1994. The Huskies look to present a formidible challenge in this years tournament on their home course. In addition, Washington has finished better than the Devils in two of five tournaments this season. Including the 11th-ranked Huskies, the Pac-10 features four top-25 squads including: No. 8 ASU, No. 24 California and No. 25. Stanford. Individually, Joel Kribel tops the list in the Pac-10 at No. 6 according MasterCard. Washington placed fifth at last years championship at Orinda Country Club.
UW Rankings: Washington continues its run at a top-10 finish entering this week ranked No. 11 in both the MasterCard Collegiate Golf Rankings and Golfstats Head-to-head Poll. The Huskies are ranked 15th in the Golfweek Sagarin College Rankings. Individually, Troy Kelly ranks 19th in the Saragin Rankings, while Rob Rashell holds the No. 26 spot in the MasterCard Rankings. MasterCard ranks Scott Kral at No. 56.
Broadmoor Golf Club: The Huskies host this years championship at Broadmoor Golf Club. The course will play as a par-70 to 6,363 yards. It marks the first time since 1989 UW has hosted the event, also at Broadmoor. In that Championship, Christian Cevaer of Stanford won the individual title with a 7-under-par 203. Arizona State won the team championship with a 1074. O.D. Vincent and Doug Baldwin were UWs top finishers, tied for 19th place with a 10-over 220. Southern California won the 1980 Championship at Broadmoor with an 1139. USC was led by the 280 of Craig Steinberg.
Directions to Broadmoor: From I-5 take the 520 exit to Montake Blvd. Go straight through the stoplight at the top of the ramp. Follow Lake Washington Blvd. for about a half-mile to the stop sign at Foster Island Road. Continue for about a quarter-mile until the guarded gate on the right.
Media Information: Media seeking additional information or interviews should contact Susan Reid or Ryan Church in the Washington Media Relations office at (206) 543-2230. A media workroom and hospitality area will be provided inside the clubhouse at Broadmoor.
Freshman Impact: Washington has two freshman making a big first impression. Troy Kelly and Gordy Scutt have been key players for Washington throughout this season. Since joining the team in January, Kelly has played in every tournament for Washington this spring, recording two top-5 finishes. Three times he has been UWs top scorer. Scutt has played all but three of Washingtons tournaments with a top-10 finish to his credit. Overall, Washingtons freshman class of Kelly, Scutt, and Brett Bockmann ranks fifth in the country, according to Golfstat.
At the Top: It has been no surprise to see the Huskies at the top of the leaderboard throughout the season. Washington bested the 19-team field at the Arizona Intercollegiate Feb. 1-2. Robb Bergeson played his best collegiate tournament, winning medalist honors, edging Stanfords Joel Kribel by a stroke. Washington also brought home the trophy from the Western Intercollegiate, one of the most prominent tournaments in the country annually. The Huskies won it in a big way as 15 strokes separated the Huskies from second place Pepperdine. Rob Rashell led a host of Huskies that played in the top-11. Washingtons other tournament win came in a dual match play against Oregon State at Broadmoor Country Club. Washington was a stroke away from having four tournament titles, losing in a one-hole playoff to UCLA at the Northwest Invitational in October.
Rashells Roost: All-American candidate Rob Rashell is wrapping up one of the finest careers in Washington history. With five top-10 finishes this season he holds the UW record in that category for his career with 17. He has six second place finishes to his credit. The 1998 Washington State Amateur Champion has numerous wins in his golfing career, but is still searching for his first collegiate victory. Rashell hit the third hole-in-one of his golfing career at the Northwest Intercollegiate Oct. 6, 1998 in the final round of the Northwest Classic on the 177-yard seventh hole at Trysting Tree Golf Course in Corvallis, Ore.
Next Up: Washington plays in the US Intercollegiate May 6-8 before heading to Tucson for the NCAA Regionals were UW will makes its bid to return to the NCAA Championships. Washingtons last appearance at the NCAAs was in 1997.
