NCAA West Regional
When: Today through Saturday.
Where: Omni Tucson National Golf Resort and Spa.
Format: 54 holes of medal play.
Teams: Arizona State, Arizona, Alabama, Baylor, Boise State, BYU, Bucknell, Cal-Poly, Colorado State, University of Denver, East Tennessee State, Florida, Fresno State, Houston, Jackson State, Lonb Beach State, Louisville, Loyola- Marymount, UNLV, New Mexico, New Mexico State, North Carolina State, Pepperdine, San Diego State,
University of San Diego, Santa Clara, St. Mary’s (California), Stanford, UC-Irvine, Utah, Washington, Washington State, Western Kentucky.
Live scoring: www.golfstatresults.com
By BILL HUFFMAN
For The Tribune
Will the real Arizona State men’s golf team please stand up.
No, this isn’t “I’ve Got a Secret,’’ although ASU coach Randy Lein is wondering when the real Sun Devils are going to emerge.
“Truthfully, we’re a little surprised we’re rated as high as No. 5,’’ said Lein, whose team has pulled down a couple of runner-up finishes this spring to go with a third place at the recent Pac-10 Championship.
“We just haven’t played up to our potential, I’m afraid. That was a combination of injuries and whatever. But we’ve got our five best players in the lineup now, with no real weak links.’’
Just in time for the NCAA West Regional that runs today through Saturday at the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort and Spa. In all, there are 27 teams including host Arizona that are vying for 10 tickets to the NCAA Championship at Sun River, Ore., on May 31-June 3.
Lein’s lineup includes the one-two punch of sophomore Niklas Lemke from Sweden and two-time Pac-10 player of the year Alejandro Canizares, a graduated senior from Spain.
That the highly decorated Canizares is playing No. 2 is a sign of the Sun Devils’ strength at the top. Now the question becomes, how will freshman Benjamin Alvarado of Chile, senior Lenny Park, and sophomore Phil Telliard – Nos. 3-5, respectively -- pan out?
“As a coach, you hate to say you’ve underachieved with a team,’’ Lein explained. “Especially when we’ve got the talent to win (the NCAA).
“But it’s been one of those years when the fourth or fifth player has factored in with a 77 or 78, and that’s not going to get it done.’’
In his 14 th season with ASU, Lein’s teams have captured but one NCAA Championship. At the same time, the Sun Devils have eight other top-10 finishes, and have missed the finals only once.
“That’s right, this is the 10 th anniversary year,’’ said Lein, whose team captured the NCAA title in 1996. “Maybe that will bring us some good luck.’’
ASU shouldn’t need much at the regional, as it is the No. 2 seed behind Florida. But the final will be more of a challenge, as Oklahoma State, Georgia, Georgia Tech and the Gators are all ahead of the Sun Devils in the polls.
“Every top-10 team has had a misstep this season, so I’m hoping our best is yet to come,’’ Lein said. “And it starts (today) in Tucson, where we hope it all comes together and keeps going forward for the next three weeks.’’
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