Sept. 20, 2003
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
STORYLINE: The No. 7 UNLV men's golf team heads out to play for the second time this season at The Preview by PING and Golfweek in Hot Springs, Va. Played at the same course that will host the NCAA Championship next summer, the Preview begins with 36 holes on Monday, Sept. 22, and concludes with the final 18 holes on Tuesday, Sept. 23. All rounds will be played at the Cascades Course at the Homestead Resort (Par 70--6,679 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 PREVIEW: With invitations extended only to those teams that rank among the top finishers at the previous year's NCAA Championship, the Preview offers a unique chance for some programs to play competitively on the same course that will decide the year's national champion. The Rebels last played in the Preview three years ago, finishing 13th of 16 teams at the Duke University Golf Club in Durham, N.C.
THE FIELD: Virginia Tech hosts a very talented 15-team field that boasts 14 teams in the top 20: Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Augusta State, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Texas, UCLA, Wake Forest and UNLV.
THE LINEUP: UNLV's five-man lineup will consist of JC Deacon, Andres Gonzales, 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.
