OCR Text |
Show Signpost -Tuesday, May 7, 1985 1 1 Weber wins Big Sky golf and tennis crowns Golfers surprise field by Chris J. Miller Assistant Sports Editor The Wildcat golf team finished their roller coaster season on a definite upbeat as they reclaimed the Big Sky golf title in convincing fashion. Led by senior Mats Jonmarker, the Weber linksters out-distanced pre-tournmaent favorite Nevada-Reno by eight strokes to win the team title. Weber led from start to finish in the 54-hole tournament. Weber recaptured the Big Sky crown, which they had held for 12 years before losing it last year to UNR. The only disappointing note for the 'Cats was that Jonmarker did not hold on to win medalist honors. Jonmarker fired a second round 67 to take the lead going into the final round. But UNR's Mark Gilmar- ' tin fired a 66 in the final round to catch Jonmarker at 210 and send the medalist race into sudden death. The first sudden-death hole ended in a deadlock when Jonmarker putt hung on the edge of the cup but wouldn't drop. On the second hole both players had tricky putts on the grainy green at Riverside Golf Course in Pocatello. Gilmartin dropped his to win medalist honors, with Jonmarker finishing second. Jonmarker was the 1983 Big Sky Medalist and fell just short in his bid for two individual honors. , Coach Mac Madsen was happy with his team's efforts to end the season. "It sure was nice to end the up and down season we've had with a win at the Championships. According to previous years and what we've done in the past we didn't have such a good year, but our season was a success as far as the Big Sky goes," said Madsen. (see GOLF on page 13) 1 - r . - f I . ; f The Weber State men's golf team captured their 13th Big Sky title in the last 14 years. Pictured are: (bottom) Glen Spencer, Miguel Tola, Mats Jonmarker, Paul Muller, (top) Chick Lignell, Jon Schnieter, Bobby Romero, Rick Kaul, Spence Ahrands, Jim Almand. The Wildcats are coached by Mac Madsen. f : Tennis team wins third title Weber State's men's tennis team captured (heir third straight Big Sky title last fti-moM 'li"l"'U tt BvIhv weekend. The tournament was held at Boise State University. by Chris J. Miller Assistant Sports Editor As expected, the Wildcat tennis team won their third Big Sky Conference crown. But how they won it was far from expected. After dropping their first team match, the 'Cats battled back to win six matches in a row, including a big 7-2 win over the home-town favorite and unbeaten Boise State Broncos. With the win, the 'Cats took their third consecutive Big Sky Conference team title in a row and their fifth in seven years. Going into Sunday's final match the 'Cats had been forced to overcome some tough obstacles just to make the finals still in contention. Coach Keith Cox's team had dropped their opening match in the round robin tourney, a tough 5-4 loss to Nevada-Reno. Weber then had to knock off the rest of the Big Sky in order as they beat NAU 6-3, Idaho State 8-1, Montana State 7-2, Idaho 6-3, and Montana 7-2. Along the way the 'Cats showed good team depth as no Wildcat lost more than two singles matches. Cox said, "When one guy lost the others would pick up the slack. All the team played well." According to Cox, this win was a very satisfying one to him, especially after the circumstances that seemed to hurt the Wildcat chances. Besides hav ing lost Tony Miles to an injury and being forced to play without a substitute, Cox was sending three freshmen into a Big Sky tourney. "We had three guys who had never experienced that kind of pressure. But after that first match they played real well," he added. Then Thomas Strahle hurt his achilles heel, forcing him to undergo ice treatments every two hours throughout the tournament. Miles had gone along for moral support but was forced to enter the hospital to relieve some problems in his esophagas. Rod Horton had his wallet stolen and Cox was wondering what else could go wrong. Cox also credited the teams' success to the good physical shape the 'Cats were in. "We were by far the most in-shape team there. We took our own trainer, and she did a super job with our hurt players," added Cox. At a team meeting following the Reno loss, things were better. "We were very down after the loss, but in the team meeting I promised the kids that we'd could still be team champions. We decided we wanted it and we did," he added. And win it they did. Weber and Boise State finished the tourney at 6-1, with Weber getting the crown with the head-to-head win. Idaho followed at 5-2, followed by UNR at 4-3, Montana (see TENNIS on page 13) |