By Craig Degel
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Shoal Creek Country Club in Birmingham, Ala., has again come into national prominence, but this time for good news.
The club was first recognized just before the PGA Championship in 1990 for refusing to allow blacks to purchase memberships. This week, Shoal Creek is the site of the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate Golf Tournament.
Monday's first and second round scores found Arizona (581) sitting in fourth place, one stroke behind third place Arkansas (580) and 15 strokes behind team leader Stanford. The Cardinal, led by freshman Tiger Woods, held a 10-shot lead over second place Auburn (576).
Auburn's Ian Steel was the individual leader with an 8-under 136 through two rounds. Just three strokes behind Steel is Woods (5-under 139). Woods is perhaps best known for his exciting come-from-behind victory earlier this year to capture the U.S. Amateur Championship. Woods' teammate, William Yanagisawa sat in third with a 4-under 140.
Arizona's Ted Purdy (143) was in a four-way tie for ninth after shooting rounds of 71 and 72. Tim Beans and Benjamin Nicolay were two of six players tied for 15th at 145. Other scorers on the day for Arizona were Gary Matthews (151) and Eric Sage (154).
Yesterday's final round was true to Tiger form. Woods overcame Steel's three-stroke advantage on the front nine and didn't look back on his way to a 10-under 206 and the individual title. Teammate Yanagisawa shot a final round 68 to finish in second place. Steel, the leader going into today's final round, shot a 1-over 73 for the day and finished tied for third at 209.
Purdy finished 1-under for the tournament and tied for eighth. After being tied for 15th coming into the day, Beans and Nicolay struggled in the final round. Beans finished tied for 19th, and Nicolay tied for 26th. Matthews finished 32nd and Sage finished tied at 49th.
Stanford stayed in control and took the team title with an 18-under 846. Its closest competition, Auburn, finished 27 shots back. Arizona came into the clubhouse tied for sixth.
The Wildcats host Australia for an exhibition Nov. 1. Their next tournament is Nov. 11-13 in Hilton Head, S.C.
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The men's soccer club took a big step toward qualifying for regionals by crushing Arizona State 7-0.
Leading the offensive firepower was Steve Ybarra. Ybarra scored three times and assisted Juris Grasis on one goal. Arizona also got goals from Nick Seward, Ryan Hatfield and substitute Jay Blanton.
The Wildcats have now scored 91 goals in 21 games while the defense, led by freshman goaltender Eric Pierson, has allowed only 24.
With its loss to the Sun Devils now avenged, the team turns it's sights to Northern Arizona, which is responsible for the UA's only other loss. sterling 18-2-1 record.
"NAU was extremely fortunate against us in Flagstaff," Coach Ron Fox said. "This game is a matter of pride for us."
Saturday's game at Wildcat Field will determine the final standings heading into the regionals on Nov. 3-5 in Las Vegas. Currently, NAU sports an unblemished 8-0 record. UA, despite a 1-1 record against Arizona State, is in second by virtue of goal differential, and the Sun Devils are at 3-2.
NAU and Arizona State will face off on Friday night in Tempe, before finshing up the season here Saturday.
"A win by ASU, and a victory for us against NAU would put us in first," Fox said. "We are getting prepared for the result we want this time."