Driving force

Photo Courtesy of UA Sports Information Arizona Daily Wildcat UA junior Rory Sabbatini lines up a put in last year's PING Intercollegiate. Sabbatini will lead the fourth-ranked Wildcats into that tournament when it begins today at Raven Golf Club at Sabino Springs.

At the age of four, Sabbatini began to follow his parents around the course, and at eight, he played in his first competitive junior tournament in his hometown of Durban, South Africa. It was then that Sabbatini first felt the desire to win and be a leade r both on and off the course.

It is that attitude and dedication to the game of golf which Sabbatini has brought to the 1996-97 edition of the Arizona men's golf team, which kicks off spring play today as the Wildcats host the 15-team PING Arizona Intercollegiate at The Raven Golf Clu b at Sabino Springs.

Coming off last season's second place finish at the NCAA National Championships behind current PGA tournament sensation Tiger Woods, Sabbatini has led the the Wildcats to top-10 finishes in their first four tournaments. In addition, Sabbatini won all thre e of his matches and lead Arizona to a first-place finish in the Rolex Match Play Team Championships in October.

Sabbatini said he believes that winning that tournament over No.1-ranked UNLV gave the entire team, and especially the younger players, the confidence they need to play well consistently throughout the remainder of the year.

"Winning that tournament did not really come as that much of a surprise to me," Sabbatini says. "We are a young team, but as a group we are really coming along well."

Sabbatini, or "Sabbo" as his teammates and coaches call him, says the hardest part of this year for himself and the rest of the team has been adjusting to the style of play in college golf.

"Generally, golf is a very defensive game in college. Our team this year is full of very aggressive players, so we are all having to adjust as quickly as possible."

Sabbatini is very quick to understand exactly what he and his teammates need to do to be successful. He has used his knowledge to take that next step towards being the player that all his teammates will look to for leadership and inspiration.

"I want to lead by example," Sabbatini says. "I'm very motivated and I want to be an influence for the new guys and show them how to go out and get the job done."

Sabbatini is currently second on the team in scoring average at 74.08 strokes per 18 holes, and has finished in the top-20 in two of the four tournaments, including a top-10 finish in the very first tournament of the season last September.

Needless to say, Sabbatini's dedication and success have not gone unnoticed by his coaches.

"I'm always concerned about having a team leader," head coach Rick LaRose says. "Rory has shown great leadership for us, and has done a great job of passing on his ideas to the other guys on the team."

Assistant coach Tom Brill has been impressed both with Sabbatini's play, as well as his character.

"Rory is really on a roll right now," Brill says. "He has got a very tempered confidence about him and he has proven himself to be a very smart player."

Sabbatini hopes to some day take the knowledge and experience he has gained by playing golf at the U of A, and use them on the PGA Tour.

"It has always been my goal to get out on the tour and get to the top. But for now, I am here to gain more knowledge about the game and prepare myself for the next level."

Sabbatini is very concerned right now with helping his team to be as successful as possible, which will hopefully include strong showings at the Pac-10 and NCAA National Championships in May.

The future appears bright and full of potential for "Sabbo," but the present has him thinking about having fun and being a leader in all he says and does both on and off the course.