March 26, 2004
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
STORYLINE: The No. 11 UNLV men's golf team continues the spring grind this week as it heads to Tucson, Ariz., to compete in the National Invitation Tournament. Hosted by the University of Arizona, the NIT will be played at the Omni Tucson National Golf Course (Par 72, 7,138 Yards) from Sunday, March 28-Tuesday, March 30. Each day will feature one 18-hole round, with a standard 4-of-5 scoring format. Live scoring via the Internet will be available at both unlvrebels.com and golfstat.com.
ABOUT UNLV: The Rebels are currently ranked 11th nationally, according to the latest edition of the Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index. They opened the spring with a runner-up finish at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate. Leading the squad are juniors Ryan Moore, who has earned All-America honors twice, and Travis Whisman, an All-West Region selection last year. Moore is presently ranked sixth nationally after posting a third-place finish at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Championship.
THE FIELD: The National Invitation Tournament carries an impressive field of 12. The University of Arizona hosts: Arizona State, Kent State, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, Southern California, TCU, Tulsa, Washington and UNLV. The hosts will field two squads to round out the 12-team tourney.
THE LINEUP: The Rebels' five-man lineup for the National Invitation Tournament will be: Andres Gonzales, 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. Moore is currently ranked sixth nationally.
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.
