LAS VEGAS - Every season, the UNLV men's golf team's primary goal is to put itself in a position to contend for the national championship.

Led by 2005 National Player of the Year Ryan Moore, UNLV won three tournaments, finished second five times and recorded two third-place finishes in 2004-05. After winning its fourth NCAA West Regional championship in the spring, the Rebels again found themselves within reach of their goal as they headed for the national finals.

The only course the Rebels played during the season where they didn't finish among the top three teams was Caves Valley in Owings Mills, Md., site of the 2004 Preview and 2005 NCAA Championship, events that UNLV finished in ninth and eighth, respectively.

"Overall, it was one of our most successful and consistent years that we have ever had at UNLV," says Dwaine Knight, who is entering his 19th year at the helm of the program in 2005-06. "Our season was topped at winning the NCAA West Regional, which was a good performance and gave us a lot of momentum going into the national championship.

"But the end of our season was heartbreaking because we felt like we should have been very competitive and had a team that was solid enough to compete for the title."

Off the golf course, the 2004-05 team will go down as one of the best - if not the best - teams that Knight has ever had. Last fall the team turned in its highest-ever grade point average of 3.27 and in the spring Moore became just the second Rebel golfer ever to be named an Academic All-American.

"We had some tremendously high performances in terms of GPAs and the team was the best academically as any we have ever had," Knight says. "The three seniors that we lost (J.C. Deacon, Moore and Travis Whisman) will all graduate or have graduated and they all earned academic all-conference accolades (with Moore and Whisman also being named All-American Golf Scholars), which is just tremendous.

"Ryan (Moore) had a magical year, both in collegiate golf and in amateur golf that will stand the test of time as possibly being the best ever. And the fact that he came back to school and finished his degree was a tremendous statement on himself as a competitor, a collegian and as a person to honor his commitment to us. Those are hallmarks that will be part of the pillars of UNLV golf forever."

With last season now in the books, the future still looks bright for the UNLV golf program. Along with nine returnees, the Rebels welcome four newcomers to the team - a recruiting class that was ranked fourth in the nation.

RETURNEES

Providing the leadership for this season's team will be seniors Ryan Keeney, Andres Gonzales, Troy Denton and Casey Fowles. Sam Hunt is the lone returning junior off last year's squad and the Rebels return four sophomores in Jarred Texter, C.J. Gatto, Matt Kinsinger and Brandon Loska.

Keeney, a senior from Redmond, Wash., is entering his fourth year with the Rebel program. His career scoring average of 73.53 ranks 11th on the all-time UNLV chart and at the conclusion of last season he was named honorable mention All-America and an Academic All-MWC recipient. In 2004-05, he played in 28 rounds and shot an average round of 72.29 with six top-20 finishes, two top-10s and a top-five.

"Ryan has become very well balanced in his approach to the team," Knight says. "Balance is not only key to a good golf swing, but a key to a good collegiate career. Ryan's experience of playing at a couple of national championships and now knowing what to expect will help it all come together for him."

Gonzales, a former transfer from Oregon State, is a senior from Olympia, Wash., who enters his fourth year at UNLV. His career scoring average of 73.25 ranks ninth on the all-time UNLV chart. Last season he earned Academic All-MWC honors for the second straight year. He played in 10 tournaments and recorded six top-20 finishes, two top-10s and a top-five. His seasonal scoring average of 72.23 in 2004-05 ranks No. 1 among returning players for the Rebels and 11th in the all-time UNLV books. He enters the 2005-06 season as the fifth-ranked amateur in the country by Golfweek.

"Andres played a big role for us last year," says Knight. "He has a lot of enthusiasm and is able to help create a good team chemistry. He adds a lot to the program and has worked very hard. His game has improved a lot over the last year and he should be one of the mainstays of our team this year."

Denton is a senior from Dallas, Texas, and is in his fifth season with the Rebel program. He has played in just four career tournaments and is a former Maze Award winner, which is presented annually to the Rebel golfer who best exemplifies the spirit of Rebel golf.

"Troy will be graduating this next year and we are excited about the progress he has made," Knight says. "Earning a degree has been a wonderful goal for him. One of the keys to this whole team is going to be depth and pushing everybody to a higher level and Troy is a big part of that."

Another former transfer to the Rebel program is Fowles, a senior from Delta, Utah. He transferred to UNLV from Utah and is beginning his second year in the program. He played in two tournaments for the Rebels last year.

"Casey has matured within our program to understand what is expected in terms of effort and qualifying, so I think we will see him be a lot more comfortable with the change coming from another university," says Knight. "I expect to see him experience a lot more success this year."

Hunt, the only other returning upperclassman, is a junior from Rotorua, New Zealand, and begins his third year with the program. He has played in 13 career tournaments and last year earned Academic All-MWC honors for the second consecutive season. He played in six tournaments in 2004-05 with his best finish being a tie for 10th at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Championship hosted by UNLV. He had three top-20 finishes and one top-10 last season.

"Sam played quite a bit for us last year and had a lot of success," Knight says. "He is much more comfortable with what he needs to do to be successful now. He has achieved a lot physically in the last year and that should relate to more success for him within the team."

Texter, a sophomore from Millersville, Pa., begins his second season at UNLV after a very productive freshman year. He was named the 2005 MWC Freshman of the Year and earned Academic All-MWC honors. He played in 10 tournaments and turned in a top finish of third at the Nelson Invitational. His three-round total of 206 at the Nelson tied him for the 15th lowest 54-hole total in UNLV history and tied him for first among UNLV freshmen. He recorded three top-20 finishes, two top-10s and a top-five.

"Jarred came in and played extremely well last fall," says Knight. "He made a grip change mid-semester, which is very hard to do. It sometimes takes a year to get comfortable with something like that. He ended up getting back on the team and played all the way through the postseason. That experience will send him to another level and we expect to see quite a bit of him this next year."

Gatto, a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio, is in his third year in the Rebel program. Last year's Maze Award winner, he played in the SHC and finished tied for 20th.

"C.J. was right on the verge of playing for us several times last year," says Knight. "I think he will be a definite contributor this season. He started to qualify really well within the program last year and we are seeing the results of his qualifying out on the amateur circuit this year, where he won the spot for the Publinx in Ohio. He is very talented and we expect to see more of him as a sophomore."

Kinsinger, a sophomore from Reno, Nev., is also in his third year with the Rebels. Last year he earned Academic All-MWC honors and was named a MWC Scholar Athlete. He also won the Parker Award for the second straight year, which annually goes to the Rebel golfer with the highest GPA on the team. He played in four tournaments as a freshman and recorded his best finish with a tie for 25th at the SHC.

"Matt has made great strides physically and I expect that to turn into more success for him," Knight says. "His short game has improved and he is beginning to achieve the power that he needs to play at this level."

Loska, the final returnee and a redshirt sophomore from Las Vegas, Nev., is in his second year with UNLV after transferring from Scottsdale Community College. He used the 2004-05 season as a redshirt year.

"Brandon has spent a year here and is very comfortable with what he needs to do," says Knight. "Knowing that, I think he will start to achieve success here."

NEWCOMERS

UNLV's 2005 recruiting class, ranked fourth nationally, is made up of freshmen Seung-Su (Steve) Han, Brett Kanda, Eddie Olson and Blake Trimble.

Han, from Incheon, South Korea, attended Edison Academic Center in Bradenton, Fla. He was named the 2002 AJGA's Player of the Year and the California Junior Player of the Year. He won five tournaments that year, which is still the most of any junior player in a single year.

"Steve has matured and has become much bigger and stronger as he has moved from the junior ranks and has played more amateur golf," says Knight. "He has recently been playing at the highest level of amateur golf and I think he is going to be a tremendous player. He is fundamentally sound, is a great ball striker and brings a lot of pure talent."

Kanda, from La Crescenta, Calif., attended Flintridge Prep and was a first team all-league selection all four years of high school. He was a two-time all-area selection and the MVP of the Prep League. As a senior he was first team All-CIF and an L.A. Times first-team selection. He was also selected as the Southern California Junior Player of the Year.

"Brett is a very solid fundamental player and has had a lot of success on the AJGA," Knight says. "He is a player that has a game that can keep improving. We are hoping that he takes advantage of all the opportunities here and our competitive program will spark him to a new level."

Olson, from Aptos, Calif., attended Aptos High School and was the 2005 FCWT Player of the Year. He won the 2004 Northern California Championship and the 2004 CIF Championship, recording a hole-in-one at the event.

"Eddie is one of the top juniors in America and is currently ranked in the top 15 in the Golfweek Junior Rankings," Knight says. "He was also a two-time qualifier for the California State Amateur and qualified for the 2005 U.S. Amateur, reaching the match-play field of 64. We feel he is an excellent prospect."

Trimble, from Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., attended Torrey Pines High School and was the 2002 San Diego Player of the Year after winning the CIF San Diego Section Championship. He was named all-league and All-CIF four times and his team's MVP three times. He also was named a FCWT All-American.

"Blake is a very talented, strong player," Knight says. "He is a big-ball hitter and has a lot of talent and has a chance to go to the next level. We are excited about his future as a Rebel over the next four years."