By Jeff Jordan
The 24th-ranked BYU men”s golf team will take to the fairway today in its biggest event of the 2003 fall season in the Prestige at PGA West tournament in Palm Springs, Calif.
Ironically, a hefty load of prestige is exactly what BYU will get if it is able to fare well in the tourney. Some of the nation”s top golf talent will be swinging their clubs against the Cougars, including No. 4 UCLA, No. 6 Texas Christian and No. 18 Washington.
A top finish might not be too far-fetched for the Cougars, who are absolutely “en fuego” after a third place finish at the Barona Collegiate Classic last week, marking their fourth straight top-five finish of the season.
The Cougars hope to ride their hot streak all the way to Palm Springs, led by junior Todd Miller, September”s Mountain West Conference Golfer of the Month.
“Todd loves to play the game and he”s a great ambassador for the university,” head coach Bruce Brockbank said in a press release. “It”s nice to see Todd recognized for his performance after recently returning from a mission.”
Miller will be joined at the Prestige by sophomores Oscar Alvarez and Clay Bingham, as well as freshmen Jake Ellison and Clay Ogden.
Golf powerhouse Texas Christian won the trophy at the Prestige last year, while Kansas” Chris Marshall took the individual honors.
BYU will play on the par-72 La Quinta Resort Mountain Course, a 6,841-yard, PGA-level course.
The first 36 holes of tournament play began today at 7:30 a.m. Play will continue on Tuesday with the final 18 holes at 7:30 a.m.
