Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 7, 1990 TAG: 9003061760
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JEFF MOTLEY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: BLACKS LENGTH: Medium
What ruins a great round of golf are divots, three-putts and sliced drives. Jay Hardwick may see plenty of those this spring.
Hardwick, the Virginia Tech golf coach, will send one of his youngest teams ever onto the course this year and will be without his best player.
Four freshmen, three sophomores, two juniors and a senior make up the Hokies' squad, but only three have lettered.
The one player who figured to be a stabilizing force was junior Ross Roberts. He finished fifth in the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament while at Odessa (Texas) Junior College in 1988 and was the only Tech golfer to score in every match during the fall season. Roberts' 77 average was the team's best during the fall. But if the Hokies are to make a run at the Metro Conference title, they will have to do it with Roberts watching from the clubhouse.
"He hurt his shoulder after the Oklahoma State Amateur last summer," Hardwick said. "He was the runner-up there, but the shoulder didn't get better. He was operated on Dec. 15. The surgery was successful, but he won't play at all this year."
Hardwick said he will apply to the NCAA for a medical hardship ruling at the end of the season. If a hardship is granted, Roberts still would have two years of eligibility.
"He has met the criteria, but we have to wait until the end of the season before we can ask for the ruling," Hardwick said.
Roberts' injury isn't the only bad luck that has befallen the Hokies. Damage caused by Hurricane Hugo wiped out two team tournaments, one at Myrtle Beach, S.C. and the other at Kiawah Island, S.C.
"Because of the hurricane, we had to schedule a couple of extra tournaments so that we would have enough to qualify for the NCAA," Hardwick said. "We play eight tournaments in seven weeks during one stretch before the Metro [tournament]."
With that grueling schedule, a foursome of Hokies will have to play well for Tech to contend in the Metro.
The top spot is now in the hands of sophomore Kyle Kauffman. Hardwick calls Kauffman the team's best fundamental player, and teammates voted him the most dedicated player in 1989.
Hardwick also will be counting on junior Tom Brittain, senior David Hagadorn of Salem and freshman Tom Graziano.
"You know, it doesn't matter if one guy comes out and plays great, if the others don't play well," Hardwick says. "One score doesn't do you any good. We have to get consistent play from everyone. That's why losing Ross hurts so much, because his score has counted in every match."
Though most would look at Tech's roster and call this a rebuilding year, Hardwick doesn't accept that assessment.
"I just tell every player that this is their opportunity and to go out and make the most of it," Hardwick said. "I've got confidence in everybody, but I'm willing to give them all a shot.
"In the fall, I played eight guys, and I don't think I had used eight different guys to start during a season in five years. I did that because of the youth. This spring, we have that rugged schedule, and who plays will depend on who comes to the front."
The Tech coach got more bad news last week when Graziano suffered a knee injury and Brittain broke a thumb. Hardwick says that neither player will be 100 percent, but neither will miss any matches.\ March
\ 12-13 - Budget/UCF Classic at Rio Pinar, Orlando, Fla.;\ 16-18 - USF/Pepsi/Budweiser/Invitational at South Florida, Tampa, Fla.;\ 23-25 - Greenbriar Collegiate, at Greenbriar, New Bern, N.C.\ April
\ 9-10 - Lonnie D. Small/Campbell Invitational, at Keith Hills, Buies Creek, N.C.;\ 13-15 - Iron Duke Classic, at Duke University, Durham, N.C.\ May
\ 10-12 - Metro Tournament at Turtle Point Golf Links, Kiawah Island, S.C.\ June
\ 6-9 - NCAA Championships at Innisbrook Resort, Tarpon Springs, Fla.
by CNB