Thursday, October 4, 2001

Frogs ranked No. 1 in nation
By Kelly Morris
Skiff Staff

Even though it has played in just one tournament, the TCU men’s golf team has already accomplished what only the men’s track and field team could last season — the nation’s No. 1 ranking.

Bill Montigel, who is entering his 14th season as head men’s golf coach, said it is a thrill for the Frogs to have the top spot in the country for the first time in program history.

“It’s great for the guys in this program,” Montigel said. “They have been working so hard, and it’s finally paying off for them.”

According to the Golfweek/ Sagarin performance index, TCU has a 68.51 rating. In 1997, the Frogs were ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation after their fall season.

After shooting a three-round score of 841, the Frogs opened their season with a first place finish at the Ridges Intercollegiate in Johnson City, Tenn. for the second year in a row. The Frogs set a school record with its 54-hole score.

Even though the performance ranking includes just one tournament, Montigel said it is still a good starting point to the season.

“I like the idea of being ranked, but the truth is it’s still very early in the season,” Montigel said. “If we’re going to keep the ranking, we’ll just have to see where we are after three to four more tournaments.”

Individually, senior Steve Shuert, who was named Conference USA golfer of the Month Tuesday, currently holds the No. 2 spot in the country with a 66.78 rating according to the Golfweek/Sagarin performance index. He is coming off finishing first in the Frogs’ first tournament. Shuert was the first Frog to win a individual tournament title since J.J. Henry in 1998.

Junior Adam Rubinson, who finished second at the Ridges, is ranked No. 3 in the country.

Shuert, whose previous best finish was a tie for ninth at the Cleveland Golf/Southwestern Intercollegiate last season, said his victory came as more of a surprise.

“There were really no words to describe it,” Shuert said. “Until the Ridges, I hadn’t been part of a winning team at a tournament. It didn’t really sink in until we got back to TCU. Once I got back, I got a lot of phone calls from family congratulating me.”

Montigel said it will take an overall team effort to continue to win tournaments in the fall.

“If you’re going to win tournaments, you need a couple guys to step up,” Montigel said. “It’s hard for any one golfer to play consistently for a long time. But every single member of this team is able to help this team.”

The Frogs will play in their third tournament of the season Oct. 8 and 9 at the Red River Classic in Dallas, where they placed second last season. TCU’s second tournament of the season, the Inverness, was canceled because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

After the delay, Shuert said the team is excited to take the course again with its No. 1 ranking.

“Everybody is extremely anxious to play in the next tournament and excited to win another tournament.”

Kelly Morris
k.l.morris@student.tcu.edu