Irish succeed in fall, face setbacks in spring season
By KEVIN BERCHOU
Sports Writer
Spring is the best time of the year for most golfers. After a long winter's layoff, their games begin to take shape as the world around them comes back to life. Unfortunately for the members of Notre Dame golf team, the opposite was true: The temperatures soared as their games fell apart.
"I wish I knew what happened," head coach George Thomas said. "We lost our focus and confidence. It was very disappointing. It was really a collapse, like the stock market."
In stock market terms, Notre Dame suffered a Great Depression. After a brilliant autumn, perhaps the best ever for a Notre Dame squad, the Irish fell precipitously, squandering any chance they had of making the NCAAs.
Thomas was pleasantly surprised with his troops' play as the fall season began. The Irish succeeded in blending a fine group of talented veterans with a group of younger players looking to break through, rocking the college golf world by winning the 24-team Air Force Invitational.
Led by senior captain Todd Veron, and sophomore star Steve Ratay, Notre Dame went on to claim two more titles. A late rally secured a championship at the Legends of Indiana Intercollegiate, while a dominating effort meant a win at the prestigious Louisville Intercollegiate.
"We really played well," Thomas said. "I though the guys were outstanding."
Success was fleeting, however. Just as quickly as the Irish had risen to 23rd in the national rankings they plummeted back to earth.
The change in play was inexplicable. A baffled Thomas was confounded by his team's poor spring play, which remains for him an enigma.
"It's a real puzzle for me," he admitted." I dwelled on it for a while, but I still don't know where we lost it."
The Irish stumbled to a seventh place finish at the Akron Invite, a tournament they well could have won, before staggering to 13th at the Ohio State Intercollegiate.
Thomas was, however, pleased with the play of his senior captain Vernon.
"Todd played admirably; he was about the only guy who was consistent," Thomas noted.
Despite the awful spring, the Irish hoped to recover as they readied to play in the prestigious Big East Championships at home on the brand new Warren Golf Course, a facility that drew rave reviews from all participants. Those hopes were quashed as the Irish disappointed with a third place finish, ruining any chance they had of qualifying for the NCAA championships.
Instead of springing ahead, Notre Dame fell back.
All Sports Stories for Friday, May 19, 2000
