Monday, June 1, 1998
Running Rebels attack UCLA, emerge with championship
M. GOLF: Bruin struggle to clinch title upstaged by exceptional
golfing
By Rocky Salmon
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
For four days in late May the UCLA men’s golf team played
excellently.
The event: the NCAA Championships.
The time: last weekend.
The result: a disappointing eighth place.
For the Bruins, the beginning of the tournament – which began on
May 27 – was horrifying.
At the end of the first round the Bruins would find themselves
in 15th place, seemingly out of contention for the title.
But day two would be a whole different story as the Bruins would
put themselves in the UCLA record books.
Shooting as a team, the 13-under-par Bruins would climb up from
the cellar to tie Oklahoma State for the fifth-place position. UNLV
would only be five strokes ahead of the Bruins, easily attainable
if the Bruins shot half as well as the second round.
Day three would be a shocker to both the Bruins and the rest of
the tournament field.
The Running Rebels of UNLV lived up to their name, as they
sprinted ahead of the competition and ended day three 35 under par,
a course record.
UCLA still was hitting on all cylinders, notching a four under
par for the day, giving them 16 under par for the tournament.
The Bruins shot excellently, and in most tournaments their score
would have been enough for a shot at the title, but UNLV owned the
New Mexico course.
The Rebels were unstoppable as they killed the 7,151-yard
Championship Course, leaving the other competitors in the dust.
At the end of round three, with only one final round left to
play, UCLA stood at fifth behind Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, and
Clemson, who trailed leader UNLV by 10 strokes.
The last day would prove to be a nail biter for UNLV and a state
of mass confusion for the Bruins.
The Bruins, who were still in the hunt, slipped up big and would
end up shooting a six over par, sealing their loss. UCLA would tie
Houston for the eighth spot behind Minnesota, Ohio State, Arizona
State – who was tied with the Bruins at the 15th spot after the
first round – OSU, Georgia Tech, Clemson and UNLV.
The Running Rebels captured their first golf national
championship ever and their second national title in school
athletics.
But it was not as easy as it seemed for the Rebels, as they
almost squandered away their 10-stroke lead UNLV had on Clemson
entering the final round.
UNLV golfers would struggle on the course, shooting one over par
and giving the Tigers of Clemson a chance to sneak in. Clemson
would cut the lead to three strokes by the eighth hole, but it was
then and there that Chris Berry shined.
Berry shot a five under par 67 in the final round to help stave
off the Clemson stalking.
In individual play, Minnesota freshman James McLean, shot a 17
under par total for the tournament. McLean’s play tied a tournament
record set by John Inman. Phil Mickelson and Justin Leonard also
tied the same record.
For the Bruins, individuals would be fruitless as each golfer
struggled under the extraordinary shooting of the leaders. After
round three Jeff McGraw and Brandon Ditullio were in the top 20,
but only Ditullio would remain after the final round.
Ditullio would lead the Bruins by tying for the 20th spot in
individuals. Meanwhile, experienced teammates Jason Semelsberger,
who won the UC Irvine Invitational, and B.J. Schlagenhauf,
disappeared into the bunkers in New Mexico. Semelsberger would end
up shooting an eight over par, the worst score on the Bruin
squad.
Ditullio kept the Bruins close all tournament and would end the
tournament at five under par, followed closely by freshman McGraw,
who shot a four under par.
In the end, the Bruins were swallowed up by record-breaking
performances. Although the Bruins performed admirably, this NCAA
Championship was won by near perfect play.