The Loop
This week's syllabus: Oct. 4-10
__THE FAB FIVE
My look at the top five teams in the country right now
MEN
Crimson Tide have deepest line-up in the country, having won two of first three events and used three different line-ups. Look to defend yet another title as hosts of this week's Jerry Pate.
Next event: Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate, Old Overton GC, Birmingham, Ala., Oct. 8-9
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In writing a story about the team for Golf World this past week, coach Jamie Green and his players convinced me they understood one fundamental point: it's nice to get off to a hot start but there is a lot of time between now and the post-season.
Next event: The Prestige, PGA West-Greg Norman Course, La Quinta, Calif., Oct. 15-16
3. Oklahoma State (NR)
Followed up runner-up finish at Ping Preview with victory Monday at Fighting Illini/Olympic Fields Invitational. Cowboys are answering early questions about whether young players (Olympia Fields medalist Rickie Fowler,Kevin Tway, et al.) can step up immediately.
Next event: Isleworth UCF-Collegiate, Isleworth CC, Windermere, Fla., Oct. 19-21
__4. Stanford __ (2)
Tied for fifth at Olympia Fields in what was essentially the Cardinal's season-opener. Still trying to knock the rust off, and plenty of time to do it.
Next event: The Prestige, PGA West-Greg Norman Course, La Quinta, Calif., Oct. 15-16
5. USC (4)
You know Jamie Lovemark will post low scores; Trojans' X-factor will be freshman Tim Sluiter. The Dutchman was two top-15 finishes to start his college career.
Next event: Isleworth UCF-Collegiate, Isleworth CC, Windermere, Fla., Oct. 19-21
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WOMEN
When you've got Amanda Blumenherst on your roster, life is good. Just ask Dan Brooks.
Next event: Lady Tar Heel Invitational, UNC Finley Course, Chapel Hill, N.C., Oct. 5-7
__2. UCLA __ (2)
Bruins might have as much fun as any team in the country.
Next event: The Stanford Intercollegiate, Stanford GC, Palo Alto, Calif., Oct. 19-21
__3. USC __ (3)
If some argued that New Mexico's Championship Course was a bit easy for the NCAA Preview, the Trojans will see how they do on a tough course when they go to the Pacific Northwest.
Next event: Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational, Sahalee CC, Redmond, Wash., Oct. 8-10
__4. Arizona State __ (4)
Can't worry about Jennifer Osborn's slow start; she'll bounce back. But Sun Devils still need a fifth starter to help keep Anna Nordqvist, Azahara Munoz, Osborn and Juliana Murcia's effort from going for naught.
Next event: Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational, Sahalee CC, Redmond, Wash., Oct. 8-10
5. Notre Dame (NR)
Three-straight wins after last week's triumph at the Wolverine Invitational--a first in school history--makes the Fighting Irish the surprise team of the fall. Only need one more win to make more titles in a single season.
Next event: Lady Paladin Invitational, Furman University GC, Greenville, S.C., Oct. 19-21
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PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 24-30
MEN
Will Griffin__, Texas Tech
The 19-year-old sophomore from San Antonio birdied his final two holes at Shoal Creek CC in Birmingham, Ala., to post a final-round 70 and grab a share of the individual title with UAB's __Brad Smith__at the Shoal Creek Invitational. While carding a three-under 213, Griffin helped the Red Raiders earn their first team title since the Hyatt Plantation Club Intercollegiate in March 2006. It was Griffin's second top-10 finish of the season after a T-6 at the Carpet Capital. (Photo courtesy of Texas Tech Sports Information Department.)
__WOMEN
Dewi Claire Schreefel__, Southern California
Having gone winless since claiming the 2006 NCAA individual title, the senior from The Netherlands shot rounds of 68-69-67 at New Mexico's Championship Course in Albuquerque to earn medalist honors by four strokes over Duke's Amanda Blumenherst at the Margaret Branch NCAA Preview. It was the first time in Schreefel's career that she had three straight sub-70 rounds, and her 15-under 204 was one shot off the school record. (Photo courtesy of USC Sports Information Department.)
STAT OF THE WEEK
1
Number of strokes off the all-time Oklahoma State 18-hole record Rickie Fowler was when he shot a second-round 63 at the Fighting Illini/Olympia Fields Invitational. The top mark of 62 was set by Hunter Mahan and equaled by Jonathan Moore.
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WHAT TO WATCH FOR__
â¿¢ It will be curious how Florida's Sandra Gal does the next two days at LPGA Q School's Sectional qualifier in Venice, Fla. The senior from Germany is playing as an amateur and after two rounds was in position to be one of the top 30 players who move on to the final stage of Q school in November.
__TOURNAMENTS TO WATCH
MEN
Old Overton GC, Birmingham, Ala. (Par 71, 6,958 yards)
Oct. 8-9
Host: Alabama
Field: Alabama, Alabama-Birmingham, Auburn, BYU, East Tennessee State, Florida, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, North Carolina, Texas, Texas Tech, UNLV
Defending champion: Alabama (33-under 819); Joseph Sykora, Alabama (14-under 199)
Skinny: You better be ready to go low if you want to win this event as scores traditionally have been in very red figures. Team champions in the last four years (Oklahoma State, 2003; Augusta State, 2004; Georgia Tech, 2005; Alabama, 2006) have 24 under or lower while individual medalists (Bill Haas, Wake Forest, 2003;Kalle Edberg, Augusta State, 2004;Garrett Osborn, UAB, 2005;Joseph Sykora, Alabama, 2006) have been 10 under or lower. Other past individual winners of the event have included Rory Sabbatini (Arizona, 1997), Hunter Mahan (Oklahoma State, 2001) and Tiger Woods (Stanford, 1994). Meanwhile, the event raises more than $20,000 for local charities.
Coca-Cola Duke Golf Classic
(For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
Duke University GC, Durham, N.C.
Oct. 7-8
Host: Duke
Field: Duke, East Carolina, Florida Southern, Houston, Iowa, Maryland, UNC-Greensboro, UNC-Wilmington, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Old Dominion, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Virginia Commonwealth, Virginia Tech, WInthrop
Windon Memorial
(For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
Lake Shore CC, Glencoe, Ill.
Oct. 7-8
Host: Northwestern
Field: DePaul, Indiana, Kansas, Kent State, Marquette, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Purdue, SMU
D.A. Weibring Intercollegiate
Weibring GC at Illinois State, Normal, Ill. (Par 70, 6,681 yards)
Oct. 7-8__
Host:__ Illinois State
Field: Bradley, Cincinnati, Creighton, Eastern Illinois, Evansville, Illinois, Illinois State, Lewis, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, Western Illinois
(For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
The Brickyard at Riverside, Macon, Ga.
Oct. 7-9
Host: Mercer__
Field:__ Akron, Clemson, Eastern Michigan, Furman, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Gonzaga, Hartford, Kennesaw State, Mercer, Middle Tennessee State, South Carolina, Troy
Alister MacKenzie Invitational
(For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
Meadow Club, Fairfax, Calif.
Oct. 8-9
Host: California
Field: Arizona State, Cal Poly, California, Fresno State, Louisville, Oregon, Oregon State, San Diego State, San Francisco, San Jose State, Santa Clara, St. Mary's (Calif.), UC Davis, UC Irvine, Washington, Washington State
Memphis Intercollegiate
(For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
Colonial CC, Memphis, Tenn.
Oct. 8-9
Host: Memphis
__Field:__Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Memphis, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Penn State, Rice, South Alabama, South Florida, Southeastern Louisiana, Southern Mississippi, Tulsa, Wisconsin, Xavier
Wolf Pack Classic
Wolf Run GC, Reno, Nev.
Oct. 8-9
Host: Nevada
__WOMEN
Lady Tar Heel Invitational__
(For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
UNC Finley Course, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Par 72, 6,285 yards)
Oct. 5-7
__Host:North Carolina
Field:__ Auburn, College of Charleston, Duke, East Carolina, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Tulsa, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Wake Forest__
Defending champion:__ Vanderbilt (29-over 893); Ashley Knoll, Texas A&M, Caroline Westrup, Florida State (two-under 214)
Skinny: An event that typically gets a solid field has a particular strong one this year with nine top-25 teams in the most recent Golf World/NGCA coaches' poll, including four in the top 10. Seminole junior Westrup gets a chance to defend her title from a year ago, when she posted a final-round 69 to share medalist honors.
34th Hawkeye Intercollegiate
(For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
Finkbine GC, Iowa City, Iowa (Par 72, 6,202 yards)
Oct. 6-7
Host: Iowa
Field: Cincinnati, Creighton, Iowa, Jacksonville State, Longwood, Minnesota, North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Texas-San Antonio, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Western Illinois, Wisconsin
Jeannine McHaney/Audrey Morehead Invitational
Rawls Course, Lubbock, Texas (Par 72, 6,384 yards)
Oct. 8-9
Host: Texas Tech
Johnie Imes Invitational
(For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
Club at Old Hawthorne, Columbia, Mo.
Oct. 8-9
Host: Missouri
Field: Bradley, Drury, Eastern Illinois, Indiana, Memphis, Missouri, Northern Iowa, Princeton, UM-Kansas City, Wichita State
Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational
(For live scoring, link here to Golfstat)
Oct. 8-10
Sahalee G&CC, Sammamish, Wash.
Host: Washington
Field: Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, California, Long Beach State, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, Pepperdine, New Mexico, Southern California, Stanford, UNLV, San Francisco, Washington, Washington State