[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 73 (Tuesday, June 9, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S5782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE UNLV GOLF TEAM

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to express my congratulations 
to Coach Dwaine Knight, Assistant Coach Dwayne Whalen, and the entire 
University of Nevada-Las Vegas golf team for capturing its first-ever 
NCAA national championship.
  The UNLV Rebels secured the title after fending off rival Clemson to 
win the NCAA tournament, which was held in the final week of May at the 
University of Mexico's Championship Golf Course. UNLV easily set a team 
tournament record by shooting a sizzling 34 under (72-hole) par of 
1,118. The previous mark was 23 under par.
  Prospects for winning the title appeared dim at the beginning of the 
season. Despite high rankings, the team failed to qualify for the 
tournament in 1997, and lost key players to graduation and the 
professional ranks. Some in the media speculated that UNLV could not 
win the big tournaments. The team has clearly proved its doubters 
wrong.
  It is interesting to note, however, that the Rebels came in a 
disappointing 10th in the season's first match and fell dramatically in 
the rankings. Undeterred, the squad, which includes only one senior, 
bounced back to win seven contests, an NCAA record.
  Importantly, instead of being laden with highly recruited stars and 
overblown egos that are the trademarks of so many top amateur sports 
programs, the 1998 Rebels featured a handful of student-athletes with 
tremendous heart and determination. Coach Knight has rightfully stated 
that the mark of this year's team was its will to do battle. Indeed, 
the group's desire to persevere and overachieve should be an 
inspiration to all who follow the sport.
  Bob Hope once said that if you watch a game, it's fun. If you play 
it, it's recreation. If you work at it, it's golf. Plain and simple, 
the Rebels' tremendous success can be traced to their commitment to 
hard work. And, I might add, their hard work doesn't stop on the 
greens. In fact, the team is comprised of model student-athletes, young 
men who understand their first priority is academics. Their commitment 
to the sport is matched only by their commitment to the classroom.
  I am particularly proud to report that the team earned a very 
respectable grade point average of 3.1 in the fall semester and 3.4 in 
the spring term. Moreover, they are true sportsmen in the sense that 
they represent themselves with class and good character.
  The Rebels' success is something in which Nevadans can take great 
pride. In fact in southern Nevada, where the population increases by a 
thousand a week, where a new, spectacular course seems to open every 
month, and where the sun shines bright 300 hundred days a year, golf 
has emerged as nothing short of a sensation. The success of the UNLV 
team certainly contributes to the sport's popularity in southern 
Nevada.
  Today, I applaud team members Jeremy Anderson, Chris Berry, Daron 
Dorsey, Charley Hoffman, Scott Lander, Bill Lunde, Christian Thornley, 
Morten Vidhoj, Scott Wingfield, the coaching staff, as well as the 
loyal fans, supportive community and UNLV, on the squad's amazing 
success. The UNLV golf team's hard work and great accomplishments have 
made Nevadans very proud, and I wish team members continued success in 
all their endeavors.

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