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Show ,,, t SPORTS THE THUNDERBlRD • SOlJI'HERN UfAH UNIVERSITY· THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1993 • PAGE 17 SUU golfers start season red hot After the first tournament of the season was snowed out in Wyoming, the SUV golf team turned in its best-ever performance at the Falcon Invitational hosted by the U.S. Air force last weekend. The Thunderbirds, led by Corey Monson's 226, finished 15th overall aher three rounds at the Eisenhower Golf Course with a composite score of 933. The University of Colorado won the tournament with a score of 889. Monson's finish was the best by a 'Bird golfer since Monson placed 12th last spring at the Sacramento State lnvi1:1tionaL Southern Utah's previous high fini sh at the Fa.Icon Invitational was 18th, two years ago. "We finished ahead of nine reams, which is more teams than we beat all of Last yea:r," pointed out SUV golf coach John Evans, "so we feel pretty good about our performance. It's like f predicted before the season started, we have a better caliber of player this year, plus, they'~e learning how to play [in tournaments). I'm ~ry proud of the kids; l think we're going to have a good year.n Although poor weather conditions hampered play on Saturday, the 'Birds rallied on Sunday with a composite score of 296, which tied Mississippi and Baylor for the best score of the day. The 296 was also just three shots off the best ingle-day score of the tournament, a 293 turned in by Baylor on Saturday. SUV shot 318 and 319 Friday and Saturday. "It was fun for the kids to tum in that great round Sunday," Evans said. "They really played well and I enjoyed watching them come in; they were a little nervous which is good for them." Monson improved each day on the course, with scores of 78 and 76 before turning in a par-72 Sunday. Sophomore Ken Hollifield was second among the Thunderbirds at 234 (77-80-77), good for 59th place; while Mike Evans finished 84th (81-87-71, 239); Toru Kanaiawa finished 91st (82-81 -78, 241), and Jared Barnes 6.nished I 04th {86-8276, 244). Only two sub- 70 rounds were shot over the entire tournament, a 66 by Baylor's Kory Bowman and a 69 by his teammate, Chad Brandt. Next up for the Thunderbirds is the New Mexico State/Coca Cola Clas ic, scheduled for Sept. 30.0tt. 2 at NMU's University Golf Course. Senior Corey Monson shot a 226 to katl the 'Birds to a 15th place finish at the Falcon Invitational last weekend 0-3 Thunderbirds to battle UC Davis in AWC opener BY JOHN McCWSKEY Thunderbird Spons Editor The '93 Thunderbird football squad will kick off its firstever American West Conference game Saturday when the 'Birds battle a tough University of California at Davis team in the Coliseum of Southern Utah. Despite beginning 0-3 for the first time in 19 years, and for the first time ever under the guidance of Head Coach Jack Bishop, the 'Birds haY(' played well against a trio of competitive teams. SUU's three losses have come against teams who have posted a combined record of 8-1 and things aren't getting easier as unbeaten Davis comes to town. The Aggies, who were picked to finished last in the 11<.WC by the conference coaches, are 2-0 including a 37-26 win in the 6.tst-ever A WC game against Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. KRight now, it looks like Davis is the best team in the conference,n Bishop noted.. "We've really got our work rut out for us again, but we need to worry about what we're doing more than what our opponents are doing right now. We've had trouble playing the whole ball game the last couple of weeks and we need to change that; we need to play hard the entire game, nor just for a couple of quarters." Injuries· have taken their toll on the 'Birds already this season and last week's knee injury tO rush end Joel Wilson puts even more strain on an alrea y weakened defensive line. The 'Birds lost starting defensive tackle Garrett Moon to a knee injury in the spring and according to Bishop two fro h 0 -linemen, who were expected to contribute, did not return. Against Central Oklahoma in the fir t half, the Thunderbird defense allowed only 110 yards in total offen_se and the 'Birds held UCO's dynamic duo, Tyrone Jones and Glenn Starks, to under 50 yards of combined rushing. Each of the Bronchos mil back tandem had averaged over 110 yards per game in UCO's first two contests. The se.cond half of the Central Oklahoma game was a different story for the Thunderbird defense as they allowed UCO to rack up almost 300 yards; half of which came on the ground. Bishop said the 0-line was tired and because of the injuries there were some new faces on defense. On the offensive side of the ball SUV played a good game against Central Oklahoma. Bishop said tight end Aundra Johnson "had his best game a a Thunderbird ." SUU quarterback Rick Robins is averaging do to 200 yards passing a game and has thrown five IDs while the ' Birds' "pocket full of kryptonite", tailback Daniel Harris, has gained almost 300 yards rushjng including two touchdowns. Runningback Benji Ho kins is e pected to return for the 'Bird this week and wide receiver Ke1,in Cuthbertson is questionable for Saturdays game against UC Davis. Bishop says, "We need LCuthbectsonJ. He's a good force and he makes things happen ." The Thunderbirds need a lot to happen this Saturday. Of course a win is at the top of the list, but to do that Bi hop says, "We can't get down on oun;elve-"S. We need to put together a complete game. lUC Davis] is the team to beat. They' re very capable of sustaining a drive and making the big play." SUU has never started a season 0-4 and although the 'Birds have lost all three of.their games by a rotal uf seven points, they have dug a huge hole fur themselves and they desperately need a win Saturday to fly out. Kiclwff is at 7 p.m. with the Pigskin Pigout starting at 5:30. Cheer squad rated superior l 993-94 SUU Cheerkatlers; Fron,(!-r)- Ka;1L:,nn Edmunds, Kristi Wilkins(1!1, Cory Rive:rs. Middle- Amber Boorh, Steve:n Nielsen, Tani Mitchell. Back- Clay Rietbrock, Richard Edmunds, Tausha Hunc, Charlie Schiefer, Patrick Phillips, Laura Wilkins. The 1993-94 SUU cheer squad may be practically all new, but they won•c be without experience this year after the team earned. a Superior rating at the USA Spirit Camp earlier this month. In addition, three SUU representatives earned individual honors. The accolades went to cheerleader Tausha Hunt and yell leader Charlie Scheiffer, who advanced into the final round of individual competition at the camp, whUe yell leader Steve Nelson was invited to oyout for the USA staff. With just three yell leaders and no cheerleaders returning from last year's squad, adviser Tammy Melton and cheer coach Amber Murie decided it might be a good idea to send the group the USA Spirit Camp, held in Santa Barbara, Calif., in early August. "Basically, we have an all new squad, with the exception of the yell leaders," second-year adviser Melton said. "So we tho ught it would be a good idea to take advantage of the camp, to learn new things and work with experienced instructors. n Although the start was a bit rough - "We didn't win a spirit award the first day because the kids were tired from traveljng and bickering among themselves a little bit; lSpirit Camp officials) want to see \'OU united as a teamt Melton said. However, the team bounced back through the remainder of the can,p to come home with a Superior rating. "lt went really wellt Melton added. "We learned a lot of new material:" Melton explained th'at the judging of the individual teams was based on observation of the squads during the camp. ~They watched !the quad J tO ee how they worked as a team and to see how well their skills improved. from day one through day four. You could work as hard or as little as yo u wanted to, but we wo rked hard.n Melton said that some teams gave ju t the bare minimum, but added, "They kept us hopping, from 8 a.m. to late at night." |