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By RON BALICKI
Senior WriterWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – They may be the new kids on the block as far as the NCAA Championship is concerned, but don’t expect the players from Middle Tennessee State or St. Mary’s (Calif.) College to feel intimidated when this year’s tournament gets underway Wednesday.
Of the 30 teams in the starting field at Purdue’s Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex Kampen Course, only these two have never before been to the big dance.
“We’ve had two good practice rounds and everyone seems loose and ready to go,” said Middle Tennessee State coach Whit Turnbow, who is in his first year at the Blue Raider helm after serving the previous five years as assistant coach for Middle Tennesseee, his alma mater. “The last few days we’ve just been soaking it all up and enjoying everything.
“But these guys don’t feel like a Cinderella team,” said Turnbow, who guided the Blue Raiders to five tournament wins this season and a No. 49 spot in the
Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings. “These guys feel they have the right to be here because they earned their way (ninth at East Regional). They’re perfectly comfortable being here.”
Scott Hardy, now in his eighth season leading the St. Mary’s program, had similar feelings about his team, one that features three seniors.
“Before the season started we set two main goals,” Hardy said. “We wanted to win conference (West Coast Conference) and to get to the national championship.
“We finished second in conference, but we did reach our other goal in getting here. I’m just so proud our guys and so happy for them, especially our seniors to be able to play in a national championship. And, I think we have shown we can play at this level.”
Of course, at this level the Blue Raiders and the Gaels will be facing their strongest competition of the season, if not the history of the programs.
Among the favorites to walk away with the championship trophy late Saturday afternoon are the top 8 teams in the
Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings, headed by Georgia (1), Alabama (2), USC (3), UCLA (4) and Oklahoma State (5). There are nine teams ranked within the top 15 and 14 of the top 25.
St. Mary’s is seeded 23rd and Middle Tennessee State 29th. But then again, the Gaels were the 18th seed among 27 when they finished seventh at the West Regional to earn one of the 10 spots. The Blue Raiders were the 19th seed in the East.
“We’ve accomplished so much this year,” Blue Raider sophomore Chas Narramore (pictured) said. “And now, to be here and to play in the national championship, that’s something you can tell your kids about. I really feel if we play like we know we can play, we could finish in the top 10.”
Added teammate Kent Bulle, also a sophomore, “This mean’s a lot for Middle Tennessee to be here, not only for us and our coaches but for our school and our community. I don’t think a lot of people expected us to do much, but I feel the sky’s the limit for us this week.”
Chad Cocco, one of the Gaels’ senior trio, said he felt qualifying for the finals was a culmination of a lot of hard work and determination.
“When we (seniors) came in, we were underdogs every where we went,” he said. “It’s been exciting to watch and see the improvement we’ve all made. Now, I feel we can play with all the teams here. What we have to do is relax and just go out and do the best we can and see what happens.”
St. Mary’s makes its NCAA finals debut Wednesday at 7:47 a.m. on the first hole where it is paired with a pair of noted Pac-10 powers Arizona State, a two-time national champion, and Washington.
Middle Tennessee State kicks things off at 8:35 a.m., with Texas, also a program with two NCAA titles, and Virginia.
All 30 teams and six individuals who are not members of those teams will play three rounds. After 54 holes, the field will be cut to the low 15 teams and six individuals who are not among those teams for the final round. Playoffs will be held in case of ties for the final team and individual spots.
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Ron Balicki is a
Golfweek senior writer. To reach him e-mail
rbalicki@golfweek.com.
Posted: 5/27/2008
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