UT golfers to miss Wilma, but not rain

10/21/2005

Members of the University of Toledo men's golf team will be sure to have their rain gear packed when they leave today for the final tournament of their fall schedule, the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational in Windermere, Fla.

UT coach Jamie Mauntler said earlier this week that he was concerned about traveling to the event with Hurricane Wilma bearing down on Florida, but forecasts yesterday indicated that the brunt of the slowing storm would likely hit far south of the Orlando area. It is not likely, though, that the event will escape rainy conditions.

The three-day tournament, held at Tiger Woods' home course, Isleworth Country Club, will feature the top five teams and seven of the top 10 teams in the national collegiate poll. The Rockets are ranked No. 56.

UT golfers Ciaran McAleavey (74.6 stroke average), Tyler Riley [75.1], and Renaud Langevin [75.1] all played in the Isleworth event a year ago when the Rockets posted a 16th-place finish.

"I think it's going to help us a little that we're familiar with the course," Mauntler said. "We were in the same situation in our last tournament [the Gary Koch Invitational in Tampa, where UT tied for fourth] and had our best performance of the season."

TOM TOLEDO: Tom Amstutz, with a 41-16 record in his fifth season, owns the fourth highest winning percentage in MAC history among football coaches with at least four years on the job. His winning percentage of .719 trails only Ara Parseghian [Miami, 1951-55] at .886, Doyt Perry [Bowling Green, 1955-64] at .855, and Bob Pruett [Marshall, 1997-2004] at .774.

In a recent interview, former UT coach Frank Lauterbur had this to say about Amstutz: "The best thing about Tom is that his teams consistently play better as the season progresses. He's always his toughest in the toughest games, the must-win league games. He's more stoic now than he was as defensive coordinator, but he still has a way of making those kids play awfully hard for him."

SQUIB KICKS: Junior Steve Odom made his 14th career touchdown reception Saturday against Ball State and moved past Don Fair [1969-71] into fifth place on the career TD catch list ... The Rockets entertain Buffalo tomorrow night having won 16 straight and 33 of their last 34 games at the Glass Bowl ... In 2003, Buffalo visited the Glass Bowl for the first time in 68 years and lost 56-29 ... UT ranks first in the MAC in total defense [285.3 yards per game], rushing defense [113 ypg] and scoring defense [19.2 points per game].

UT ROUNDUP: Rocket cross country ace Ebba Stenback was named MAC runner of the week for the second time this season. She and teammate Dagmara Handzlik finished 1-2 overall and led UT to a win at BG's Falcon Invitational ... The women's volleyball team is 7-0 at home this season, and if that trend continues the Rockets could jump into serious contention in the MAC. UT (12-8, 5-3 MAC) hosts West Division leader Eastern Michigan tonight at 7 before meeting Central Michigan at Savage Hall tomorrow at 3 p.m. Led by Kate Bean and Kelsey Culver, UT leads the league in service aces per game ... Seniors Crystal Young and Amanda Davis and junior Allison Lindborg have been voted by teammates as tri-captains for women's basketball ... The women's soccer team has matched school records for wins [10] and shutouts [8] in a single season. UT, which has outscored opponents 69-41, is on the road this weekend at Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan ... The UT women's golf team will be the favorite in the Cincinnati Fall Classic Monday and Tuesday. The Rockets, at No. 54, are the highest ranked team in the field, well ahead of No. 91 Bradley ... UT's tennis teams will compete in the ITA Regionals this weekend in Ann Arbor.

Contact Dave Hackenberg at:

dhack@theblade.com

or 419-724-6398.