Tuesday, September 30, 1997

Perfect conditions at Fairway Oaks for first round

By AL PICKETT

Sports Editor

Golfers got a new look Monday at Fairway Oaks Country Club during the first round of the Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate golf tournament.

They teed off No. 15 as the first hole, with golfers finshing at No. 14, which is behind the clubhouse.

"I just decided to play it that way for something different," said Abilene Christian University golf coach Vince Jarrett, who is tournament director. "It makes the front nine a lot tougher."

Indeed, the tough finishing holes at 16, 17 and 18 became Nos. 2, 3 and 4 on the front nine in the new setup.

The layout - plus the nearly windless conditions - were obviously to Cameron University's liking. The Aggies shot a 3-under-par 285 score to grab a 2-stroke lead on East Central Oklahoma. Arkansas Tech is in third place at 290.

The final round of the 36-hole tournament is today, with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m.

Cameron was led by David Studebaker and Spike Seals, two of six golfers who fired 2-under-par 70s. Eight golfers broke par and 13 shot even par or better Monday.

Joining the Cameron pair with a share of the lead at 70 were Doug Dixon and Brock McKnight of East Central, Carey Gentry of ACU and Robbie Schiff of Texas A&M-Commerce.

Gentry, from Midland High, led ACU's second team to a 296, good for fifth place. The Wildcats' first team is tied for 10th at 304. McMurry University is in 12th place at 306, while Hardin-Simmons University's Gold team is in 14th place at 311 and the HSU Purple team 15th at 312 in the 17-team tournament.

A&M-Commerce's Schiff, a senior transfer from the University of New Orleans, was playing Fairway Oaks for the first time.

"It was not windy at all today, just blistering hot," he said. "I made a lot of putts."

Schiff made five birdies in his 2-under-par round, including a pair of putts from nearly 35 feet on No. 8 and No. 13.

Team standings - 1. Cameron 285; 2. East Central Oklahoma 287; 3. Arkansas Tech 290; 4. Southwestern Oklahoma State 293; 5. ACU White 296; 6. Central Oklahoma 297; 7. Texas A&M-Commerce; 8. Texas Wesleyan 299; 9. Oklahoma City University 301; 10. (tie) ACU Purple and West Texas A&M 304; 12. McMurry 306; 13. Incarnate Word 310; 14. Hardin-Simmons Gold 311; 15. Hardin-Simmons Purple 312; 16. Northeastern State (Okla.) 317; 17. Mary Hardin-Baylor 322

Individual leaders - 1. (tie) David Studebaker, Cameron; Spike Seals, Cameron; Doug Dixon, East Central; Brock McKnight, East Central; Carey Gentry, ACU White; Robbie Schiff, Texas A&M-Commerce, 70

Cameron - Jason Jeter 79; David Studebaker 70; Sam Vardeman 72; Spike Seals 70; Chris Gruetzner 73

Mary Hardin-Baylor - Bryon Ding 81; Brian Banasik 80; Adrian Sifuentes 78; J.J. Polhemus 83; Phil Jemison 86

Oklahoma City U. - Nick Hughes 74; Ryan Ellis 76; Gareth Payne 73; Rob Colberg 78; Goran daSilva 83

East Central Oklahoma - Doug Dixon 70; Russell Huff 76; Brock McKnight 70; Nic Bailey 72; Michael Bond 75

Incarnate Word - James Garvie 83; John Piper 75; John Lopez 76; Andrew Cano 81; Gevin Allen 78

Texas Wesleyan - Richard Ramskill 74; George Watts 81; Chris Gaines 76; David West 76; Richard Noon 73

Southwestern Oklahoma - Joel Burleson 72; Cory Smith 73; Greg JOnes 73; Jeff Wirth 78; Russell Smith 75

ACU White - Avnish Bhandari 76; Carey Gentry 70; Kade Burns 73; Rustin Gradke 88; Andrew Wilmot 78

ACU Purple - Brandon Johnson 80; Trey Barnes 75; Luke Alverson 77; David Culberson 76; Jeff Wells 76

Hardin-Simmons Gold - Jason Darby 80; Chad English 83; Ty Adams 77; Reagan Underwood 78; Alan Kirby 76

Hardin-Simmons Purple - Don Moates 80; Ryan Fletcher 77; Pat Potts 77; Wes Stockard 83; Tim Turk 78

McMurry - Josh Long 77; Regan King 77; Toby Thompson 83; Ryan King 77; Justin Erickson 75

West Texas A&M - Erik Struck 78; Jarrett Johnston 81; Michael Casey 73; Jud Price 78; Drew Shurbert 75

Texas A&M-Commerce - Blair Buttar 74; Casey Devoll 77; Robbie Schiff 70; Craig Clifton 80; Ramey Kimbrough 77

Northeastern State (Okla.) - John Hron 79; Eric Allen 81; John Matteson 79; Kevin Hogue 80; Eric Kiser 79

Arkansas Tech - Josh Coonce 73; Nick Rogers 71; Kerry Lott 75; Jeff Jenkins 71; Ryan Houston 83

Central Oklahoma - MaCrae Brunker 73; Duncan Burke 77; Tosh Hays 75; Steve Joolowski 72; Tyler Willey 78

Other individuals - Casey Upham, McMurry, 79; Jarrod Morrison, McMurry, 80; Bryan Helm, McMurry, 80; Josh Orr, McMurry, 80; Brian Davis, ACU, 81; Mitch Miller, ACU, 83; Justin Jarrett, ACU, 78; Stan Short, Southeastern Oklahoma, 78