Men's golf putts out in 24th

By Mark Snyder
Daily Sports Editor

In 15 seasons as coach of the Michigan men's golf team, Jim Carras had numerous highlights.

PGA Tour professionals have passed under Carras' tutelage, but in each season something was missing.

Consider that void filled.

After a 29-year absence, Michigan returned as a team in the NCAA championships last Wednesday.

While Michigan placed 24th out of 30 teams and failed to qualify for the second two days of competition, Carras was hardly dismayed by the performance of his players.

"They weren't intimidated," he said. "The golf course is extremely demanding, but the competition wasn't intimidating to us."

The five Michigan players, despite Carras' appeals to the contrary, had reason to be apprehensive.

Michigan had not qualified for the championship since 1968 - before any of the current Wolverines were born.

So Michigan's success begs the question: Was the achievement an aberration or does it set a new mark?

Carras said the program now has higher goals.

"This sets a new standard for the kids," he said. "They say, 'If other guys can go to the regionals and the finals, why can't we?' And that's exactly what we're looking for."

The Wolverines were led by senior Kyle Dobbs, who carded a 144 for the two-day event. Dobbs, the Big Ten medalist, shot the low score of the five Wolverines, improving from his opening-round of 73 to a 71 on the second day.

When the final individual scores were tallied, Dobbs finished in an individual tie for 24th.

Carras was hardly surprised at Dobbs' performance.

"Kyle Dobbs has the ability," Carras said. "When he wants to get focused he can do pretty much anything he wants. He did it during the Big Tens, he did it during the regionals and he certainly did it during the NCAA finals."

The other four Wolverines - Michael Harris, David Jasper, Brent Idalski and Issac Hinkle - combined with Dobbs to shoot 300 on the first day and returned with a 297 a day later. The 597 overall score was 13-over par.

Four of the five Wolverines are seniors. Harris, a freshman, is the only exception.

"It was without a doubt one of the finest teams that I've had the pleasure of working with in the 15 years I've been the head coach," Carras said. "This is a very special group of kids."

06-04-97