Golf team set to continue tradition of excellence

Arizona Daily Wildcat Rory Sabbatini,ranked 6th at the start of this year's season, finished tied for 10th in last year's tournament.

The Wildcats, coached by Rick LaRose in his 20th year at the UA, are led by senior Rory Sabbatini who finished tied for 10th place in the tournament last season.

Sabbatini, from South Africa, was an All-America honorable mention, and was named to the second team All-Pacific 10 Conference after last season.

Going into last year's NCAA tournament, he was ranked as the 12th-best collegian men's golfer nationally. Sabbatini opens this season ranked sixth.

During his sophomore year, Sabbatini finished second behind Tiger Woods at the NCAA championships in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Along with Sabbatini, the Wildcats will depend on junior Andy Barnes and sophomore Derek Gillespie to compensate for the loss of Ted Purdy, who was named to the first team All-Pac-10 in 1995 and 1996.

Both Barnes and Gillespie competed for the Wildcats at last year's NCAA championship tournament.

The Wildcats, who were ranked No. 9 nationally heading into last season's championship tournament, hope to continue the tradition of excellence of Arizona's golf teams with the men winning the national championship in 1992 and the women's team winning it all in 1996.