. ,.. .. i . .1'. rl ...!Y iNr.i i v.v- Spring Sports '91 The Daily lar rieeiweanesaay, reDruary z, iid Men9 golf ready to Burton, Moore By Stewart Chisam Assistant Sports Editor UNC's Tee Burton doesn't sport a domineering personality at least not one as forceful as his 6-foot-4, 200 pound frame might suggest. In contrast, the two-time All-ACC golfer speaks silently, almost shyly. When forced to talk about himself, he quickly uses words like "teammates" and "coaches." But this season, a brooding confi dence spills out between the honorable mention All-America's humble words. The senior knows he's good. More importantly , Burton knows that this year's team his team holds the all-around talent capable of reaching the apex of collegiate accomplishment the NCAA championship. "This year we are shooting not only for the ACC title always our first and primary goal but we would really like to be in contention for the NCAA (championship)," the Shelby native said. Tee Burton Burton's confidence is more than warranted. The Tar Heels return three of five starters including two All-ACC per formers from last year's squad that placed seventh in the NCAA Tourna ment. In addition, UNC, currently ranked second nationally, is riding a tide of fall-season successes that briefly landed the Tar Heels atop the Taylor Made collegiate poll. All together, this new-found experi ence, chemistry and confidence could bring the Tar Heels a championship come NCAA Tournament-time in June. "The last couple of years, we always thought that we had a really good team," Burton said. "But we never really played well together. Golf is such an individual sport that one or two players can't carry the team. You need all five guys playing well. That's the difference this year. Everyone has played well at the same time." Everyone includes returning starters John Aber, Pat Moore and, of course, Burton. Burton, Moore and sophomore Tom Scherrer should go 1-2-3 for the Tar Heels, with senior Aber teeing off at fourth and Bill Smith at fifth. Junior David Wood, a Morehead Scholar, and redshirt sophomore Steve Albright could also crack the Tar Heel's starting five. Moore, known for his slightly off hand personality, garnered All-ACC honors a year ago as he paced the team with a 72.78 stroke average. This fall, the Bismarck, N.D., native tied Burton with a team-leading 72.45 average. drive No. 2 Tar Above all else, Moore, a junior eco nomics major, gives UNC an explosive threat who has the potential to shoot an unearthly round each time he hits the links. "Pat is the kind of player that every coach loves to have on his team because he is a little bit dangerous, in that Pat probably is capable of shooting the lowest scores, certainly on this team and maybe in college golf," 14th-year head coach Devon Brouse said. If another college golfer can match Moore stroke for stroke on his best day, it might be Burton. Not as explosive as Moore, the speech communications major counts on consistent play, expe rience and a strong work ethic to keep him on an even plane with his younger compatriot. "(Tee) is an excellent young man, a coach's dream, so to speak," Brouse said. "From his fall performance, one can see that he can play with anybody in college golf. His work ethic and lead ership will be beneficial to this year's squad." Confident, yet cautious not to jinx himself, Burton who fell two shots shy of a tie for last year's ACC individual championship - has set his sights on realizing some lofty individual dreams this year. "I have some pretty high goals for this year," he said. "I obviously would like to make All-ACC again, and I'd really like to be first-team All-America. But I have to maintain my consistency. I've played well at times, but I've also played bad. If I can just keep my con sistency and get a little luck, hopefully, a lot of things can go my way." Scherrer is another player looking for a touch of luck and consistency to solidify his game. The two-time New York state champion stroked a 75.63 average this fall, but showed his finest play in individual meets this summer when he took home the North and South Amateur championship. Now he looks to repeat those individual performances under the different auspices of team competition. 'Tom had a great summer," Burton said. "He hasn't really played as well for the team yet as he does in the sum mer, but I think a lot of that has been (his inexperience). He's a sophomore now and I think he's starting to get more comfortable with the (team) situation." One player who thrives on team situations is Aber. A consummate competitor, the Greensburg, Pa., native performs like a true senior: He comes through in the clutch. "John is just a grinder," Burton said of his roommate. "He doesn't always hit the ball as well as everyone else,"lut he seems to always play well when we need him. He's not always the lowest scorer on our team, but his score usually counts and it's usually right around par. He's a good leader for our team." Smith, a talented but somewhat in experienced redshirt sophomore, will look to Aber's leadership as he strives to improve his 75 career average with the Tar Heels. This fall, Smith hit 74.25 strokes per round, prompting admiration and expectations from his team mates. "B ill's really a hard worker, and that hard work is starting to pay off. Burton said. "He's really starting to play well for us. I think Bill is going to be one of the keys to our success this season as tar as us getting that fifth score in there all the time. Another player who could give the Tee it mp Heels in search Tar Heels some solid play at the end of the lineup is Wood. The Surrey, En gland, native stroked a 77.75 average in his three starts this fall and fell just two strokes short of qualifying for the Brit ish Open last summer. But Wood is most known among his teammates for his brains. "David's a unique player for us in that he might be the only Morehead Scholar to ever play golf here," Burton said. DIRECTIONS TO SOUTH SQUARE MALL: From Chapel Hill and 1-40, take 15-501 north; follow South Square signs. of national title Sadly, one Tar Heel who would have been a major contributor to UNC's sea son died this summer. Neal Sullivan, a two-time honorable mention All America, suffered fatal injuries last Aug. 2 as the result of a single-car accident. He would have been a senior this season. Well-respected as an athlete and as a person, Sullivan's memory will live on. "Neal was everybody's friend, and he will always be in our thoughts," Scherrer said. South Square Mall... the angle you're looking for in Style and Selection Chapel Hill 493-2451 Men's Golf Head Coach: Devon Brouse (Purdue 1 971 ) Career Record: 36 tournaments, 46 individual championships (14th year) Record at School: same Assistant Coach: Billy Williford 1990 Record: ACC third, NCAA seventh Starters ReturningLost: 32 Top Returnees: Pat Moore (Jr.), Tee Burton (Sr.), Tom Scherrer (So.), John Aber (Sr.), Bill Smith (So.), David Wood (Jr.), Lance Reid (So.), Hunter Grove (So.), Steve Albright (So.) Top Newcomers: Danny Albert (Altamonte Springs, Fla.), Todd Kozlowsky (East Setauket, N.Y.), Brian Mull (Goldsboro), David Rush (Carmel, Ind.), Andrew Sapp (Raleigh), Lex Tarumianz (Lookout Mountain, Tenn.), David Von Canon (Sanford) Facility: A.E. Finley Golf Course (18 holes; par 72; 6,685 yards) With over 100 fine shops, restaurants and theaters, including Dillard's, Belk Leggett, JC Penney and Montaldos. Blvd. & 15-501, Durham

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