Coming off perhaps the best fall season under head coach Rod Myers, the No. 9 men's golf team looks forward to playing an intense schedule in its quest for the national championship.
For the Blue Devils to match their autumn exploits--where the team climbed to as high as No. 6 in Golfweek.com's national rankings--Duke will rely on the skill of senior Leif Olson.
A senior, Olson finish first individually at the Nelson tournament in Palo Alto, Calif., which propelled the team to its only win of the fall.
Myers feels that Olson, who also claimed individual honors at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate golf tournament, is the glue that holds the team together.
"It first of all starts with [Olson]," Myers said. "He's close to playing at the highest level. As an individual, he played strong all fall."
Olson had been a stand-out on last year's team, but it was freshman Ryan Blaum who surprised everyone last semester with his outstanding play, allowing the Blue Devils to enter the top-10 after disappointing results in the spring of 2002. Blaum finished in the top-20 in every event of the season.
Myers knew about Blaum's exceptional talent, but marveled at his ability to adapt to the college game.
"You also have to realize that college is an adjustment," Myers said. "Not many guys will come in as a freshman and not be out of the top-20 no matter what the caliber of the player is. I would have to have told you that it was unexpected. I certainly would have predicted some solid finishes, but not with that type of consistency."
Blaum, who made the cut for the U.S. amateur as a junior in high school, had problems with his wrist over the winter.
In addition to the freshman's injury, sophomore Tom Lefebvre, who is expected to compete at the four and five positions, suffered from an ailing back in the fall, but both of these injuries appear to have healed.
"Everyone is going to be pretty much healthy," Olson said. "I think we're all just excited to get started."
The Blue Devils will begin Feb. 17 in Jacksonville, Fla., at the Mercedes Benz Invitational. The tournament is a marquee event in college golf, playing host to some of the best teams in the country.
Myers predicts that the team's play at Jacksonville will depend on how much practice the team can get in because of the climate in Durham.
"[Our success] depends on the weather here and how sharp we can be," he said. "The field there is really strong."
Things do not get easier for the Blue Devils as the season rolls along. Every tournament in which the team is involved features national competition.
"We just don't have any easy events," Myers said. "I think we're going to have the chance during the spring to see how we measure [up]. We're trying to be prepared for the conference championship as much as we can."
If Duke is to use the momentum from the fall season, it must continue to have strong play in final rounds. The disappointing 2002 spring season was filled with missed opportunities on tournaments' final days, while last fall the Blue Devils proved to be much more clutch.
"I know last year everyone didn't put up good numbers on the final day," Olson said. "This year we played the final round a lot better. I think we just have a better team than last year."
In addition to Olson and Blaum, expect big things from Mike Castleforte, Rob Beasley and Lefebvre this season, as all three had solid showings during the first semester. With every golfer hitting his stride, the team feels the sky is the limit for 2003.
"Our goal for every tournament is to win it," Olson said. "We try to take it one step at a time. One goal is to get to NCAAs, and once we're in it, to win it."
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