The Oregon men’s golf team
will wrap up its fall season at The
Prestige at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif. Since the close of the Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge last week, the Ducks have given their starting
rotation a make over and will be sending only two players who competed in the tournament to the par-72, 7,158 yard course at La Quinta.
Junior Kyle Johnson and sophomore Matt Ma are making their 2004 season debuts in the varsity five this week and are joined by Anaheim, Calif., native Matt Amen. This is Amen’s first start since the season opener in September at the Northwest Collegiate Classic. Junior Chris Dukeminier is also playing in the tournament, which marks his
second straight start. Freshman Joey Benedetti, who led the Ducks at the Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge, is playing as well, making him the only Oregon golfer to appear in every tournament this season.
Men’s head coach Steve Nosler
explained the changes late last week.
“We aren’t getting the consistent performances we need out of guys who have been our better players in the past,” Nosler said.
Oregon finished a disappointing 12th out of 14 teams at the Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge. Nosler feels that The Prestige is a prime opportunity for his younger players to get playing time and perhaps improve the team.
“This week we’re going to give some other guys a chance to play and show what they can do,” Nosler said.
The Prestige has not been a friendly course for the Ducks in the past, who finished a humbling 14th last season at La Quinta. To make matters worse, the tournament features a daunting field headed by No. 7 Texas Christian, defending 2003 champion at The
Prestige. The remaining teams include No. 11 UCLA, No. 13 Brigham Young, No. 24 Texas Tech, UC Davis, UC Irvine, Colorado, Kansas, Northern Colorado, Notre Dame, Oklahoma,
Pacific, Pepperdine, Stanford and Yale.
Ma should have a decent couple
of outings at the tournament,
considering that he has played the PGA West course before — the only Duck to have done so. Last season, Ma tied for 57th at 14-over 230.

Scott J. Adams is a freelance sports reporter for the Daily Emerald