>>March
      2, 2001

      
Benzel looks to promising final season

      
By Brian Armstrong
     Argonaut Staff

      
The Idaho Vandal men's golf team
      had an outstanding 2000 season, and is looking to improve this
      spring.

      


      One of the key players on their team is Ryan Benzel, a senior
      from Ritzville, Wash.

      


      Benzel has played all four years for the University of Idaho,
      and hopes that he can help bring his team to the NCAA National
      Championships this season.

      


      Benzel was originally drawn to UI because he felt it was the
      best place to go for a chance to compete and contribute right
      away.  

      


      Last year's NCAA West Regional tournament was Benzel's favorite
      finish since he's been here. 

      He finished in a tie for 18th at 4 under par, shooting 73-70-69.
      

      


      The whole team was playing well at that time, and they put up
      a good fight against bigger schools, including some from the
      Pac-10 Conference.

      


      Benzel feels that the best part of his game right now is his
      putting, and he needs to work on his imagination and shot making
      ability.

      


      "When you come back from the winter it's easy to see the
      shot, it's just hard to actually make the shot," he said.
      

      


      The whole team is working on creating and making shots from many
      different situations on the course, a part of the game that can
      be very difficult to figure out.

      


      Benzel offered some insight as to what the Idaho Vandal golf
      team had in store for the future.

      


      "The recent success of this last year has dramatically improved
      the golf program here," he said. 

      


      The Vandals will be playing in some bigger tournaments next season,
      and will be playing against some bigger schools. 

      


      Michigan State is expected to be a part of the biggest field
      ever held at Idaho's home tournament. 

      


      Benzel said there are some good and exciting things headed this
      way and will really be fun for the team.

      


      Benzel plays Ping I3 irons, a Ping driver, a Cobra cavity back
      3-wood and an Odyssey putter. All the team members use Titleist
      Professional golf balls.

      


      The men's and women's golf teams kickoff the season today at
      the Clarkston Country Club with a 7:45 a.m. tee time. 

      


      They will face Washington State University, Gonzaga, Eastern
      Washington and Lewis-Clark State College.  

      


      After today's tournament, the men leave for the Pilot Spring
      Invitational in Portland March 5-6. 

      


      The women have a couple weeks off until they travel to Tampa,
      Fla., for the Snowbird Invitational March 15-16.
 

      
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