Sept. 10, 2003
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STORYLINE: The No. 8 UNLV men's golf team opens the 2003-04 campaign this week at a familiar setting, the 48th Annual William H. Tucker Intercollegiate in Albuquerque, N.M. The three-round affair begins with 36 holes at 7:30 a.m. MDT on Friday, Sept. 12, and conclude with the final 18 holes on Saturday, Sept. 13. All rounds will be played at the UNM Championship Course (Par 72, 7, 248 Yards).
ABOUT UNLV: The Rebels return six letterwinners and four starters from last season's team that finished 13th nationally. Head coach Dwaine Knight begins his 17th year in the valley ranked eighth in the Golfweek preseason rankings. Along with its four returning starters, the Rebels boast a large six-man class of newcomers with a wealth of success at the junior level.
THE TUCKER: A yearly favorite for UNLV, the Rebels make their 17th appearance there and open a season there for the 14th time. Hosted on the same course that UNLV won its 1998 national championship, the Tucker marks an annual return to the alma mater of head coach Dwaine Knight. Last season, the Rebels finished second to host New Mexico on both the team and individual leaderboards. The Lobos posted a five-stroke win, while UNM's Michael Letzig outlasted Ryan Moore to claim medalist honors by three strokes.
THE FIELD: New Mexico hosts a 20-team field: Air Force, Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Brigham Young, Colorado, Colorado State, Hawaii, New Mexico JV, New Mexico State, North Carolina State, Pepperdine, San Diego State, Stanford, Texas-El Paso, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Toledo and UNLV.
THE LINEUP: UNLV's five-man lineup will consist of JC Deacon, Sam Hunt, Ryan Keeney, Ryan Moore and Travis Whisman.
MORE ON MOORE: Junior star Ryan Moore could possibly be the best player in college golf this year, and certainly one of the most heralded. The two-time All-American has a chance to join former Rebel and current PGA veteran Chris Riley as UNLV's only four-time All-Americans. The Puyallup, Wash., native was a finalist for the Hogan Award last season, presented annually to the top collegiate player in men's golf. He was also selected to the U.S. Walker Cup team, the U.S. Palmer Cup squad and collected his first collegiate victory at home in the Toyota Men's Collegiate Championship. At 20, Moore has already played in two PGA major championships -- the U.S. Open and The Masters. And he was chosen as the UNLV Olympic Sportsman of the Year for the second straight season.
HEAD COACH Dwaine Knight: UNLV men's golf head coach Dwaine Knight is in his 17th year at the helm of the Rebel program. During his tenure, UNLV has been a perennial power with six league championships, 14 NCAA finals appearances and the 1998 national title. The 2002 MWC Coach of the Year was the only mentor to twice claim GCAA National Coach of the Year honors in the 1990s (1991 and 1998). He has produced an amazing 31 All-Americans and guided six different players to the PGA Tour at UNLV.
