8B -- The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - October 7, 1996
GOLF
Chemistry
much better
this year for
men'as golfers
By John Friedberg
Daily Sports Writer
Chemistry might not seem as if it would be much of a fac-
tor in a sport like golf, but it is.
Last season, the Michigan men's golf team was supposed to
be strong.
However, the Wolverines' best finish was a fifth-place
showing in the PGA Invitational last Oct. 29-31. Virtually all
of the team that was competing last year is back, but the
mediocre finishes are not. Michigan has
already won one tournament and fin-
ished third in another.
What is the difference this year?
Is it more experience, better focus or
a renewed commitment? All of the
above have made a difference. Four of
the five players who played over the
weekend are seniors, but according to
Michigan coach Jim Carras, chemistry
has been the biggest factor this fall.
"I thought the chemistry of the team
last year was a negative, rather than a positive," Carras said.
"And I am now convinced that leadership is a very, very impor-
tant part of being successful even on a golf team."
But isn't golf an individual game? Aren't the struggles of
golf only in the minds of the individual?
Not necessarily, it may sound hokey, but the support of your
teammates even in golf can help immeasurably. If there is a
commitment by some of the team, the rest of the team has to
follow suit. There has to be respect and support within a team
for there to be success. This type of togetherness was not a part
of the team last year.
"Last year I was so disappointed in the overall attitude, that
I did not select a captain (for this season)," Carras said. "I felt
that we were not going to have a number one guy, we were
going to have five or ten number one guys. We're going to be
a team"'
That chemistry was evident yesterday at the end of the tour-
nament. Sophomore Michael Harris was the first golfer off the
course for the Wolverines. Instead of just relaxing, Harris
signed his scorecard and went back to the 18th green to wait
for teammate Brent Idalski to finish up. This pattern continued
until Isaac Hinkle, the final golfer, finished his round.
"If I would have told them to do it (wait), it would have been
artificial," Carras said. "I think that is the biggest difference
between this year and last. The kids seem to respect each other
more."
That little bit of support could have given Hinkle the confi-
dence to clinch his second-place finish with a good putt.
"Because of all the mental aspects of this game a lot of the
little things can change it one way or the other," Carras said.
Another big part of the chemistry equation is stability. The
lineup has been the same for two of the first three meets.
The lineup of Isaac Hinkle, David Jasper, Kyle Dobbs,
Michael Harris and Brent Idalski will be intact, for now.
"The five guys that we have right now are our five best play-
ers currently," Hinkle said. "And anytime the five of us all play
together, we are going to do well."
If this weekend is any indication, the Wolverines' best days
are ahead of them this year.
M'
men' sgolfeases.
toward tourney win
By T.J. Berka
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan men's golf team, buoyed by
playing at its home course, cruised to a tourna-
ment victory this weekend at the Wolverine
Invitational.
The Wolverines (292-285-295) lapped the
field, winning the tournament by a comfortable
20-shot margin. Michigan was helped by con-
sistent play from all five players, as each one
finished in the top 25.
"This is one of the best tournaments we've
ever had," Michigan coach Jim Carras said.
"It's certainly nice to win at home."
Isaac Hinkle led the way
ing second in the individ-
ual competition with an
even-par 213 (72-67-74) in
the tournament. Hinkle,
who finished behind only
Maarten van den Berg of
Miami (Ohio), shot a team-
low round of 67 on
Saturday.
"I putted really well,
stayed calm, stayed consis-
tent," Hinkle said. "When
for Michigan, tak- 7
"This is
best touri
we'veeve
Netherlands native van den Berg won the
individual competition with a one-under 212.
He was spurred by a second round 65, a com-
petitive course record.
"My ball-striking was very good,: van den
Berg said about his record round. "I hit 16
greens, and I just missed the other two greens
by a little bit.
His round, which helped set up Miami's sec-
ond-round low score of 281, helped Miami tie
for second place with Marshall with three-
round totals of 892.
The Thundering Herd, thanks to a final-
round low score of 290, advanced from a sixth-
place tie after the second round to second
place.
They were paced by
one of the Sam O'Dell (70-75-
72) and Steve
iam ents Shrawder (75-74-68),
who tied for third at
Sha_ four-over 217.
Shrawder's 68 was the
- Jim Carras low score of the final
men's golf coach round.
Other notable fir
ishers include defend
ing Big Ten Player of the Year Randy Leen of
Indiana, who finished in a tie for fifth place
with Jasper, Miami's Kyle Voska, Kent State's!
Todd Lancaster and Ball State's Kevin Reed
with a five-over 218.
Last year's Wolverine champion, Minnesota,
finished fourth (299-300-304), one shot
behind Miami and Marshall. The Hoosiers took
fifth (296-296-302), one shot behind the
Golden Gophers.
The Wolverines continue their fall season
next Monday and Tuesday at the Kroger
Invitational in Memphis.
r
Michigani
you play your home course, you are a lot more
confident."
David Jasper continued his rock-solid play
this season, tying for fifth with a five-over 218
(71-71-76).
Kyle Dobbs also finished in the top 10 with
a six-over 219, shooting a team-low 71 in the
final round. Michael Harris tied for 21st (75-
76-74), and Brent Idalski tied for 25th (77-73-
76).
"Right now we're going to live off these five
guys, because they have proven to be winners,"
Carras said.
JONATHAN SUMMER/Daily
Michael Harris tees off at the eighth hole of the Michigan Golf Course during this
weekend's Wolverine Invitational. Michigan cruised to victory, capturing the tour-
nament title by a 20-shot margin. All five players participating placed in the top
25.
Solid all-around play leads to comfortable victory
By John Friedberg
Daily Sports Writer
Consistency was a big part of Michigan's victory over
the weekend.
All five of the Wolverines placed in the top 25.
Junior Isaac Hinkle led the way with his second-place
finish. Seniors David Jasper, Kyle Dobbs and Brent
Idalski finished in ties for fifth, 10th and 25th, respec-
tively. Sophomore Michael Harris finished in a tie for
21st.
COURSE RECORD: During the second round, there were
a tournament-high three rounds in the 60s. Among these
was a competition record 65 by Miami's (Ohio) Maarten
van den Berg. Van den Berg, who hails from the
Netherlands, ended up winning the tournament by one
stroke.
Also shooting in the 60s were van den Berg's teammate
Kyle Voska and Michigan's Isaac Hinkle, who shot 69
and 67, respectively.
TOP-NOTCH PLAY: Last season, Michigan was plagued
by inconsistency. Six players took turns leading the
Wolverines in scoring in various tournaments, but only
one finisher placed in the top five in any tournament the
whole year.
So far this fall, Michigan has had three different play-
ers finish with the lowest score on the squad in three
tournaments.
The difference is the Wolverines have already tied last
season's top finish twice.
Senior David Jasper finished in a tie for second in the
Falcon Invitational and this weekend, junior Isaac Hinkle
finished second in the Wolverine Invitational.
WHAT TO DO IN A TIE: Miami (Ohio) and Marshall fin-
ished in a tie for second place. The problem is, there is
only one second-place trophy.
How did they break the tie? Did they have a sudden-
death playoff?
No, in a less dramatic tiebreaking procedure, the
tiebreaker was the better final round score. Since
Marshall scored a 290 on Sunday and Miami ballooneN
to a 306; Marshall went home with the hardware.
CLOSE COMPETITION: While the gap between the
Wolverines and the second-place teams was 20 shots, the
competition was much tighter for the next four spots.
In addition to the tie for second between Miami (Ohio)
and Marshall, Minnesota was just a shot back in fourth.
Close behind the Gophers was Indiana which finished
only one shot back of Minnesota.
NAME GAME: In addition to having the longest name of
the tournament with Maarten van den Berg, Miami
(Ohio) had two of the more interesting monikers
There was no one with a more appropriate golf nan
than Redskin Tee McCabe.
Also working on Sunday for the Redskins was a
Bishop. John, who shot a 75, was not enough to prevent
Miami shooting their highest round of the tournament
with a 306.
1. 11
YES, LIFE IS OFTEN
IKEABOXOF
MARGARET MYERS/Dily
Michigan golfer Isaac Hinkle receives an award for his second-place finish in yes-
terday's Wolverine Invitational. The Wolverines won the tournament by a 20-stroke
margin.
CHOCOLATES.
Empty. Desiring something more.
Your life ever been like that? Your life like that now? Maybe there's a part of you that can't
be satisfied by anything in this world. As someone has said, "There's a God-shaped vacuum
in the heart of every person that only God can fill."
God has a great way of bringing depth and meaning to life. Jesus said, I came that
THE
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