6B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - September 22, 2003 'M' golf has rough timeat home meet By Ryan Sosin Daily Sports Writer The Michigan men's golf team served as a nice welcome mat when it hosted this year's Northern Intercollegiate golf tournament. Michigan fin- ished the weekend 12th in the field of 15, saved only by a solid performance from senior Dave Nichols on the final day of competition. Michigan stumbled out of the gate and could not recover, finishing the weekend 43- over par on its home course. Marred by incon- sistent play on the back nine, the front nine proved just as unfriendly in yielding higher scores from all but one starter. The short game left cause for concern, but it was the all- around sloppy effort that produced four dou- ble bogeys and a triple bogey and kept the Wolverines from cracking the top 10. "I was a little disappointed with the way our starting five played, other than Dave Nichols," Michigan coach Andrew Sapp said. "I might shuffle the lineup a little bit and get some of these young guys who played well in there for our next tournament." Senior Dave Nichols turned in the only quality performance for the Wolverine starters. Coming off an appearance at the 2003 U.S. Amateur Championship, Nichols looked sharp all day, heading back into the clubhouse at 2-under par. "It's really coming together (for me)," Nichols said. "Today it was just real solid; hopefully I can build on that." Sophomore Christian Vozza, playing as an individual, turned in a similarly respectable per- formance. Vozza carded career bests in back-to- back rounds this weekend, capped by a 67 yesterday. Vozza finished third among the indi- Buckeye leads despite handicap BRETT MOUNTAIN/Daily The Michigan golf team found Itself in the rough (or worse) a lot during a tough weekend. vidual competitors and earned a spot in the start- ing group. "You can bet that Christian Vozza will be in the lineup (next week) after his play this week," Sapp said. Redshirt freshman Brandon Duff, also playing as an individual, finished the weekend tied for 19th with a score of 7-over par. Duff's final score is not indicative of his week- end; he looked good, tallying a 1-over par in each of the first two rounds. Despite a weak third round, Duff and his Great Big Berthas could make an appearance in the starting five early in the season. Xavier was the star of the tournament, taking the trophy home on the shoulders of three aces and a spectacular score of 1-over par. Jason Kokrak popped in an ace on the 14th hole yesterday, join- ing Matt Makinson and Miles Maillet, who both scored hole-in-ones during the practice round. By Matt Kramer Daily Sports Writer One day Kevin Hall would like to win the U.S. Open. He'll raise his arms in triumph and smile to all the fans standing and applaud- ing him loudly. Only he won't hear a single word. That's because Hall - a senior at Ohio State who helped lead the Buckeyes to a third-place finish at this weekend's Northern Intercollegiate at the Michigan Golf Course - is deaf. At age two, Hall was hit with a bout of meningitis. He beat the disease, but lost his hearing. That didn't stop Hall. It didn't stop him from becoming both the first black and first deaf golfer to play for Ohio State. It doesn't stop him from being a role model to many either. "I'd like to be a role model to both minori- ties and those with hearing problems because I like to think that what I do means something," Hall said after completing the tournament with rounds of 76-70-78 - 224. He finished in a tie for 33rd individually. Hall's right about one thing: What he's done as a role model has meant something to people. What he's done on the golf course has not gone unnoticed either. Hall, originally from Cincinnati, had offers from virtually all the schools that he was interested in coming out of St. Rita School for the Deaf, and settled on Ohio State because he and his family felt that it had the best combination of golf and disabil- ity services. "We wanted Kevin to go to a school where a disability program was in place," said his father, Percy Hall, who followed his son all weekend and also serves as his sign lan- guage translator during interviews. "We looked at a lot of schools, but we felt Ohio State was the best at what Kevin needed." He's one of just four black golfers playing at the Division I-A level, and he's the only deaf golfer. Being deaf certainly hasn't hindered Hall's success on the golf course. In just the past year, Hall shot even par at the Dayton Open, an event on the Nationwide Tour (a circuit for golfers that's just below the PGA Tour) and he won the Cincinnati Metropolitan by playing seven rounds in 23-under par. But what makes Hall so special is his effect on Hall others who share his dis- ability. "I remember at a tournament last season, Kevin was playing with some of our guys and a couple gentlemen with hearing disabil- ities came down just to watch him," said Michigan coach Andrew Sapp. "I think that shows just how inspirational his story is. He's a great role model to a lot of people. To overcome the adversity that he has just shows what kind of person he is." Hall makes numerous appearances a year to high schools around Ohio and even played a round of golf with a deaf high-school golfer who just requested the opportunity to someday meet him. Hall doesn't believe his disability hampers his play. In fact, he says sometimes not hear- ing anything helps him focus on the golf course. "He can't hear people talking or horns honking as cars gp by, and that's an advan- tage out on the course," said Ohio State coach Jim Brown. "It's been such a treat coaching him. He's one of the nicest kids I've ever been associated with." When he's on the course, Hall has to play golf completely by feel. Since he can't hear the club hit the ball, he has to rely totally on how the club feels in his hands on impact. "Sometimes Kevin will hit the ball and turn to me to ask me how it sounded," said Percy. "It's just one of those things he over- comes. He's a fighter." Hall's been a fighter his whole life. Born a month early at only a little over three pounds, Hall fought as a baby just to sur- vive. Then, after Hall came down with meningi- tis, the doctors had no option but to give him medication that would burn the nerve fibers in his ears and force him to lose hearing in both ears. It was the only way to save his life. "I have always told him that your life is how you react to the situation you're given," said Percy. No one, however, not even Percy, would ever have dreamed that when Kevin was a child, he would turn into a college athlete. "I never thought he'd play a sport in col- lege," said Percy. "We didn't know anyone that was deaf. It was all new to us. We just told him that the sky was the limit." Kevin's taken his father's comments liter- ally. After he graduates next fall, Hall says he will probably give it a go at playing pro- fessionally. "Yeah, I'd like to try to play professional- ly," said Hall, laughing. "But after today's round (a 78), I don't know anymore." Even though Hall and his Buckeyes didn't win this weekend's Northern Intercollegiate, nobody will ever tell him he's not a winner. "I'm the same as everybody else," says Hall with a smile. "Except I just can't hear." Tell us what you really think. PA EC RS'. We want your feedback about the recent amendments to theg Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities. 'si Staff from 05CR and representatives from MSA will be available to HAT NUAC SMOVI talk with students: *SAtatement Vof, St E GVEN 6no Wednesday, September 24, 11 :3am-1 :30 pm Michigan Uinotid4haodCor onde atn eceC r svy-te ~ <~ Thursday, September 25,11 :3am-1 :30 pmlar ie buthPakC p*> Pierpont Commons outside the Piano Lounge T,' sday .1pem r"17 3 pin p x o le to akndg4 ,< Office of Student Conflict Resolution f 8.6 , :.iZy4 7 1 Division of Student Affairs LAZARD) Will be holding interviews for Analyst positions in its Investment Banking Group On Friday, October 17th, 2003 Office of Career Development Seniors interested in interviewing with us should submit resumes and cover letters through M-Track by September 24 6 I