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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 03 September 2008 |
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1) What did you get up to this summer?
I was busy recruiting. I went to Slovenia and Canada and a lot of tournaments in the US and really had a demanding schedule. Fortunately, my wife and three daughters were able to join me on a trip to the Callaway Junior World Championships in San Diego. My wife is from there, so they stayed with family while I recruited. I really didn’t seem to spend a lot of time at home.
2) Successful trips?
Absolutely. I can’t say a lot about them because nothing has been signed, but they were very fruitful, yes.
3) You obviously watched your existing team members over the summer?
 Nick Taylor
4) Who’s new on the team this year?
 Richard Lee
5) Zach Bixler must be a big loss?
Zach will be greatly missed. He’s a great character and really stepped up when we needed him to. He’s a leader off the course and obviously a great player. He’s been caddying for Alex Prugh on the Nationwide Tour this summer and will be playing a few Monday qualifiers to get into tournaments himself. Then I’m sure he’ll be preparing for PGA Tour Q School in November. Zach Bixler
6) Where’s your first event this season?
We’re playing at the Gopher Invitational in Wayzata, MN, starting Friday 12th. We have four tournaments before the end of the year; the Gopher, the Husky Invitational at the end of September, The Prestige in California in October and the CordeValle Collegiate in California in November. We’re having a 54-hole qualifier at Tumble Ridge next Tuesday in order to pick the five players who’ll play in Minnesota. We’ll drive out on Monday evening, stop at my house for a few games of ping-pong and tee off on Tuesday morning at about 6.30.
7) What are the Huskies’ prospects for the season?
I am really excited about our prospects this year. We are definitely a top-25 team and I expect us to reach the NCAA Championship again. We could even be a top-five team. Our young guys will have to play to their potential and we’ll obviously rely on Nick {Taylor} a lot.
8) Looking back, how did you rate 2007-2008? Did the team under or over-achieve?
I’d say we under-achieved in the early part of the season, but over-achieved in the post-season. Nick was second at the NCAA and we finished much higher than anyone would have guessed. For me and the guys that work on it every day, we think we could have done even better.
9) Washington State University has a new course at Palouse Ridge. Have you seen it, and how do you think it will affect the golf program there?
 Palouse Ridge
10) Lastly, how far do you think Nick Taylor can go?
No doubt he can get to the very highest level if he wants to. He’s a very special player. Parts of his game are still undeveloped which is amazing considering how much success he’s already had. He’s one of those players who actually plays better when the pressure is on, and that is a trait of a great player. |
